Few teams have seen less of David Ortiz throughout his career than the Los Angeles Dodgers. But that didn’t stop the club from giving him a very special farewell ceremony Friday.
The Dodgers brought surrounded the Boston Red Sox slugger with some old friends ahead of the teams’ three-game series, which will mark Ortiz’s final appearance at Dodger Stadium.
Joining Big Papi on the field before the game were Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Dodgers TV color commentator Nomar Garciaparra — all of whom spent time as Ortiz’s teammates in Boston.
The ceremony was narrated by legendary Dodgers play-by-play man Vin Scully, who also is stepping away after this season.
But perhaps better than Scully’s introduction and the mini Red Sox reunion was the gift Ortiz’s ex-teammates presented to him: a $10,000 check for his charity, the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. And it appears the Gonzalez family will provide the icing on the cake.
Ortiz has received plenty of bizarre gifts this season during his retirement tour, but the combination of seeing his old friends and getting some love for his charity should make the Dodgers’ ceremony one of Big Papi’s favorites.
Interestingly enough, Dodger Stadium is the only major league park where Ortiz hasn’t recorded a hit, but he’ll get a chance to change that Saturday, as manager John Farrell said Friday that Ortiz likely will start at first base for game two.
Click to see video of Ortiz’s tribute >>
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
