David Ortiz

David Americo Ortiz Arias (November 18, 1975-) holds the Boston Red Sox single season record for home runs in a regular season (54), and has been proclaimed by team owners as “the greatest clutch-hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox.” The Seattle Mariners signed Ortiz as an amateur free agent in 1992, and he toiled in their minor league system until being traded to the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002). Showing flashes of talent but plagued by injuries for nearly all of his six seasons with Twins, he signed a free agent contract with Boston in 2003 and by 2004 had established himself as a major player on the team, leading the BoSox to their first World Series title in 86 years. That same year marked his first of nine All-Star Game appearances. Ortiz is tied with Babe Ruth for most American League single-season home record in road games (32 in 2006), was the first Red Sox to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (2004-2006), and has led the American League in home runs (2006), RBI (2005, 2006), and extra base hits (2004, 2005, 2007). In 2011, Big Papa was named the Roberto Clemente Award recipient as the player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team." Ortiz has won seven Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitters Awards (2003-2007, 2011, 2013) and has captured six Silver Slugger Awards (2004-2007, 2011, 2013). Through the end of the 2014 season, David Ortiz has clouted 466 home runs and amassed 2,159 hits, and 1,533 RBI while batting .285 over his 19-year Major League career.