Who is David Ortiz? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Nick Name: Big Papi

Also Known As: Big Papi, David Américo Ortiz Arias

Age: 47 Years

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Tiffany

mother: Angela Rosa Arias

children: Alexandra, D'Angelo, Jessica

Born Country: Dominican Republic

Quotes By David Ortiz Baseball Players

Height: 1.91 m

Ancestry: Dominican American

Grouping of People: Black Baseball Players

City: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

discoveries/inventions: David Ortiz Children's Fund

More Facts

awards:
2004 - American League Championship Series MVP Award for most valuable player
2003 - Edgar Martínez Award for outstanding designated hitter

2004 - Edgar Martínez Award for outstanding designated hitter
2005 - Edgar Martínez Award for outstanding designated hitter
2006 - Edgar Martínez Award for outstanding designated hitter
2007 - Edgar Martínez Award for outstanding designated hitter
2011 - Roberto Clemente Award for Major League Baseball player
2004 - American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award for best offensive player
2005 - American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award for best offensive player
2006 - American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award for best offensive player
2007 - American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award for best offensive player
2011 - American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award for best offensive player
2005 - American League Hank Aaron Award for best baseball player.
2004 - GIBBY in Baseball Hitter of the Year Award for extraordinary baseball performer
2005 - GIBBY in Baseball Hitter of the Year Award for extraordinary baseball performer

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Childhood & Early Life

David Ortiz was born in Saint Domingo, Dominican Republic to Enrique and Angela Rosa. His father played baseball for years in Dominican pro and semipro leagues and became a source for inspiration for Ortiz.

Ortiz was the eldest of the four children and was the most easy going and calm person in the family. He attended the Estudia Espallat High School and there he championed the game of basketball.

In 1992, he was signed on by the Seattle Mariners and he played for them until 1996 and then got traded off to Minnesota Twins. He was listed as ‘David Arias’ before, which was later changed to ‘David Ortiz’.

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Career

In 1997, Ortiz made his debut in the Major League, playing for the Minnesota Twins but he suffered from many injuries. He experienced serious knee problems, which finally led to his release by the Twins in 2002.

Ortiz signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2003. He mostly did pinch hitting for them but sometimes played as a DH. He proved his real mettle when he was made a permanent DH by Gary Little.

In 2004, Ortiz hit 41 home runs and had 139 RBIs while batting .301 with an OPS of .983, which helped him finish second in the American League and he led Red Sox to their first World Series championship.

In the same year, he hit his 100th career homerun but was also deferred for three games since in the game against the Angels he threw on the field many bats that could have hurt the umpires.

In 2005, Ortiz led the American League in RBIs by finishing second in homeruns and third in OPS. He was presented with a plaque by Red Sox ownership, calling him ‘the greatest clutch-hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox’.

In 2006, Ortiz hit his 200th career home run. He broke Jimmie Foxx's record by hitting his 51st home run off of Johan Santana of the Twins. The home run was his 44th of the season as a DH.

His 35 homeruns and 117 RBI's, placed him in the top 10 in the American League and additionally, his 52 doubles, led the American League in extra base hits and earned him an OPS of 1.066 in 2007.

In 2008, Ortiz could not play as many matches because of a wrist injury. He missed several weeks and could only play in 109 games and concluded the season with 23 home runs and 89 RBIs while batting .264.

Ortiz hit his 300th career home run against in 2009 and finished the season with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs with a .238 average. He also hit his 270th career home run as a DH.

In 2010, Ortiz won the Home Run Derby contest at the All-Star Game and finished the season with 32 home runs, 102 RBIs and batted .270.

Ortiz became only the fifth player to hit 300 home runs as a member of the Red Sox in 2011.He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in the same year. the Ortiz hit his 400th career homerun at O .co Coliseum in Oakland in 2012. He could not do very well in the season because he suffered an injury to his right Achilles tendon. the In 2013, Ortiz hit his 500th career double and passed Harold Baines to become the all time leader for hits by a DH with 1689. He also finished third in Boston's mayoral race that year with 560 write-in votes.

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Awards & Achievements

Ortiz is a nine-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion and he holds the Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54 and also an all-time leader in MLB history.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Ortiz married Tiffany, from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, a town between the cities of Green Bay and Appleton. The couple has three children together. In 2013, he announced that he is separating from his wife.

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Trivia

Every time Ortiz hits a home run, he looks up and points both index fingers to the sky as a tribute to his dead mother, who died tragically in a car accident.

David Ortiz Biography