Bob Collins
There are cries of anguish in Boston this afternoon. David Ortiz is retiring.
He’ll give up the game at the end of next season, FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal reports. That gives him a chance for a farewell tour.
There’s no need to recap — again — the thoughts of what might have been had Ortiz been allowed to remain with the Minnesota Twins, or even whether he got a fair chance with the Minnesota Twins.
Instead, let’s ponder this: Could David Ortiz have been bigger than life playing in a place like Minnesota?
It’s not likely. He played on great teams in Boston which gave him the opportunities to be one of the greatest clutch hitters in history. Boston has a habit of being on the big stage. Minnesota? Not so much.
Ortiz’ biggest moment, however, wasn’t swinging the bat or winning championships. It was dropping an “F-bomb,” which he did when he was selected to speak to the fans of Boston shortly after the Boston Marathon bombing. He got that opportunity because few teams in baseball are so closely affiliated with a region the way his is.
The game was on national television and local radio, and the FCC, which can tie up a broadcast licensee for years for such things, didn’t care that they broadcast an obscenity.
David Ortiz spoke from the heart at today's Red Sox game. I stand with Big Papi and the people of Boston – Julius
— The FCC (@FCC) April 20, 2013
Boston’s only appearance at Target Field next season is the weekend of June 10th.
What might’ve been? It never could have been.
