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David Ortiz deserved better than this. His exit from his final postseason game — an exciting but disappointing loss at Fenway Park — *featured none of the things that made him special as a player. There was no flair. No swagger. No dramatic comeback hit.
Instead, Ortiz’s career ended with him sitting on the bench, watching as the Boston Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Indians. He was reduced to a spectator, cheering on his club with the rest of the fans. It was a cruel end to a career that brought so much joy to the game.
Even in disappointment, Ortiz still produced. In his final game as a professional baseball player, Ortiz went 0-for-1, driving in one run on a sacrifice fly and walking in his two other plate appearances. That RBI may not have impacted the game, but it added to Ortiz’s legacy.
It didn’t happen. One inning later, Ortiz watched from the dugout as the Red Sox attempted yet another comeback, only to fall short.
Though his career was over, his time at Fenway Park was not. Boston fans stayed in their seats as the Indians celebrated on the field. They had to stick around to pay tribute to Ortiz one final time.
When the time came, there were plenty of tears. Ortiz emerged from the dugout, walked to the pitcher’s mound and tipped his cap to a still packed Fenway Park. That was the moment Ortiz realized, “it was over.”
That production is the reason many have urged Ortiz to reconsider retirement. It’s clear he can still play, even if the rigors of a 162-game season had become*a grind. Despite hearing those protests all season, Ortiz has not budged.
If this is really it, Ortiz retires as one of the best hitters of his era. Over his 20-year career, Ortiz hit .286/.380/.552. He slugged 541 home runs, a feat made even more incredible considering he didn’t really become a full-time player until his age-27 season.
From 2003 to 2016, Ortiz ranked second with 483 home runs, fourth with 1,204 runs scored, third with 1,530 RBIs and seventh with a 146 wRC+. Ortiz remained an elite producer in nearly every offensive stat for 13 straight seasons. He notched five top-five MVP finishes over that period and was named to 10 All-Star games.
David Ortiz surveys Fenway Park during his final game. (Getty Images) He also enjoyed tremendous postseason success. Ortiz led the Red Sox to three World Series titles. In 84 postseason games, he hit .290/.403/.545, with 17 home runs. He was named the World Series MVP in 2013.
His performance, personality and flair for coming up big*in key moments will*likely lead to Ortiz being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame once he’s eligible. That’s no easy task for a player who spent the majority of his time as a designated hitter. Frank Thomas is the only player to accomplish that feat.*With Edgar Martinez unlikely to join Thomas in the next few years, Ortiz will likely be the second DH enshrined in*Cooperstown.
When that time comes, Ortiz will stand at the podium to address his fans once again. You can bet he won’t disappoint, either.*On top of everything else, the man also excels at giving fantastic speeches.
As he finishes his speech, fans will scream and cheer, and salute Ortiz’s tremendous career one final time.*That’s exactly what he deserves.
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Instead, Ortiz’s career ended with him sitting on the bench, watching as the Boston Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Indians. He was reduced to a spectator, cheering on his club with the rest of the fans. It was a cruel end to a career that brought so much joy to the game.
Even in disappointment, Ortiz still produced. In his final game as a professional baseball player, Ortiz went 0-for-1, driving in one run on a sacrifice fly and walking in his two other plate appearances. That RBI may not have impacted the game, but it added to Ortiz’s legacy.
Most Career Postseason RBI:
Bernie Williams 80
Manny Ramirez 78
David Justice 63
Derek Jeter 61
David Ortiz 61
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 11, 2016
He was removed in the eighth inning after*that second walk, and left the field to a standing ovation from the fans. As he walked off, Ortiz threw his hands in the air to pump up the crowd, hoping their cheers would inspire his team to complete a dramatic late-inning comeback.Bernie Williams 80
Manny Ramirez 78
David Justice 63
Derek Jeter 61
David Ortiz 61
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 11, 2016
It didn’t happen. One inning later, Ortiz watched from the dugout as the Red Sox attempted yet another comeback, only to fall short.
Though his career was over, his time at Fenway Park was not. Boston fans stayed in their seats as the Indians celebrated on the field. They had to stick around to pay tribute to Ortiz one final time.
When the time came, there were plenty of tears. Ortiz emerged from the dugout, walked to the pitcher’s mound and tipped his cap to a still packed Fenway Park. That was the moment Ortiz realized, “it was over.”
Ortiz on emotions: ‘Tonight, when I walked to the mound, I realized it was over.’
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 11, 2016
He would keep his hat in the air as he walked back to the Red Sox’s dugout, leaving the field for the final time as a player.— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 11, 2016
David Ortiz says goodbye. #ThanksPapi pic.twitter.com/CQyaASeII0
— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) October 11, 2016
While his final game*was a letdown, his final season was anything but. As a 40-year-old Ortiz seemed to find the fountain of youth. Over 626 plate appearances, Ortiz slashed an incredible .315/.401/.620. He hit 38 home runs, a record for a player his age. Ortiz’s 163 wRC+, an advanced stat that measures offensive performance, ranked second in the league behind Mike Trout. In his final season, Ortiz was still one of the best hitters in the game.— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) October 11, 2016
That production is the reason many have urged Ortiz to reconsider retirement. It’s clear he can still play, even if the rigors of a 162-game season had become*a grind. Despite hearing those protests all season, Ortiz has not budged.
If this is really it, Ortiz retires as one of the best hitters of his era. Over his 20-year career, Ortiz hit .286/.380/.552. He slugged 541 home runs, a feat made even more incredible considering he didn’t really become a full-time player until his age-27 season.
From 2003 to 2016, Ortiz ranked second with 483 home runs, fourth with 1,204 runs scored, third with 1,530 RBIs and seventh with a 146 wRC+. Ortiz remained an elite producer in nearly every offensive stat for 13 straight seasons. He notched five top-five MVP finishes over that period and was named to 10 All-Star games.
His performance, personality and flair for coming up big*in key moments will*likely lead to Ortiz being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame once he’s eligible. That’s no easy task for a player who spent the majority of his time as a designated hitter. Frank Thomas is the only player to accomplish that feat.*With Edgar Martinez unlikely to join Thomas in the next few years, Ortiz will likely be the second DH enshrined in*Cooperstown.
When that time comes, Ortiz will stand at the podium to address his fans once again. You can bet he won’t disappoint, either.*On top of everything else, the man also excels at giving fantastic speeches.
As he finishes his speech, fans will scream and cheer, and salute Ortiz’s tremendous career one final time.*That’s exactly what he deserves.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik