An era is over.
David Ortiz, Big Papi, has touched the lives of everyone in Boston from his first season back in 2004. From your first year back in 2004, when we (yes, I mean the Red Sox) finally broke the curse, then in 2007, when you rallied the team to win yet another World Series. And who could forget 2013?
April 15, 2013 the city of Boston was changed. The Marathon Bombing changed this city, a city built on strength, courage, and fight, was shaken to its core. In the following days, Boston fought back, we fought with courage, arrested the bombers, and came back stronger than ever. You were the pillar of strength for a city shaken to its core.
You stood in the center of Fenway Park, America's most beloved, and delivered a speech that could never be forgotten by this city. "This is our f------- city. And nobody's going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong." David Ortiz summed up the feelings of the people of Boston in 54 simple words: We may be angry, and hurt, how could we not, our city and our people were attacked? But we cannot give into the anger and hurt, we must rise above, be strong. Be Boston Strong.
We went on to win the World Series that year, the year Boston needed it the most. We rallied, you rallied this city, to bring it back and emphasize the resilience, the strength, the tenacity of this city and its people. Thank you for being more than a player to the city of Boston, thank you for making this your home.
Here we are, three years later, in the running for the world series, yet again. Bring it home Big Papi, not just for the fans, but for you. As a player dedicated to the Red Sox and the city of Boston and its people, you deserve to go out with a bang (which you have). You have rallied this team, this city, and your fans in an incredible way, it will never be forgotten and never be replaced. The city of Boston and a little girl who grew up loving you thanks you for your kindness, your compassion, your dedication, and your strength.
Take it home one more time and demonstrate your true meaning of Boston Strong. David Ortiz has forever left his mark on the city of Boston, the Red Sox, and his fans. Number 34 will always hold a special place in the heart of Boston.