As David Ortiz’s enshrinement to the Baseball Hall of Fame grows closer, the recognition of his accomplishments has become more apparent.
On July 24 you will hear plenty of facts about his legendary career. Most of them will be of the basic variety; he hit 541 home runs, he finished his career with 2,472 hits and 1,768 RBIs, he batted .688 in the 2013 World Series, etc. But some of the best facts are the ones that get overlooked.
So why don’t we take a look at the lesser known stuff? Here are eight unique facts about Big Papi’s career that you may have forgotten about:
1. Ortiz signed his first pro contract with the Seattle Mariners.
Most everyone knows that David Ortiz first reached the big leagues as a member of the Minnesota Twins, but the first team to sign Ortiz to a pro contract was the Seattle Mariners. Ortiz signed on Nov. 28, 1992, just 10 days after his 17th birthday.
2. He was originally known as David Arias.
Looking back it seems crazy that we could have called him anything but David Ortiz, but that contract he signed with the Mariners read “David Arias.” Ortiz chose to be known by his mother’s maiden name for the first six years of his baseball career, before finally catching on as David Ortiz when he was traded to the Twins.
3. He once beat Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. in a Home Run Derby — as a minor leaguer.
Ok, so you probably have heard this one, but it’s too good to pass up. Back in 1996, the Mariners set up an exhibition game against their Single-A affiliate Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The game got rained out, forcing them to adjust to a home run derby. Griffey couldn’t hit a ball out, Rodriguez coasted to a few dingers and Ortiz turned it on — winning the whole thing.
4. Ortiz was the “player to be named later” in Seattle’s trade for Dave Hollins.
Exactly one month after that home run derby win, Ortiz was traded to the Twins. Seattle had acquired third baseman Dave Hollins to help sure up their defense in a race for the pennant — which they would eventually lose out on, failing to make the playoffs. Hollins left the Mariners that offseason and Ortiz eventually… well, you know.
5. Coco Crisp almost robbed his first career walk-off home run.
There isn’t a single baseball player who’s more well known for clutch hitting than David Ortiz. On Sept. 25, 2002, Ortiz hit his first career walk-off homer against Cleveland at The Metrodome. It almost wasn’t to be, however, as future Red Sox teammate Coco Crisp got a glove on the ball before dropping it as he crashed into the outfield wall.
BONUS FACT: Ten of Ortiz’s future Red Sox teammates played in that game. Crisp, Ellis Burks, Victor Martinez, Bobby Kielty, Doug Mientkiewitz, AJ Pierzynski, JC Romero, Dustan Mohr, John McDonald and David Riske.
6. He started his football fandom as a Packers fan.
Let’s try not to hold it against him. Before becoming the world’s funniest Patriots fan, Ortiz was a Packers fan. He started his pro-ball career with the aforementioned Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, meeting his future wife in the mid-west and adopting her favorite team. Years later, he’d come to his senses.
7. Ortiz’s signature home run celebration is a tribute to his mother.
From the 2002 season until he retired, Ortiz looked up as he crossed the plate after every home run and raised his index fingers to the sky. It was a tribute to his mother, Angela Rosa Arias, who died in a car accident in January 2002.
8. Hall of Fame dominance.
Ortiz faced eight Hall of Fame pitchers in his career: Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. He homered off Maddux, Martinez, Smoltz, Halladay, Mussina and Rivera.
