For 14 seasons, Boston Red Sox fans flocked to Fenway Park to see David Ortiz smack home runs to right. In 2016 Logan Airport named the Gate 34C as David Ortiz's gate.
That's either quite a coincidence or a clever maneuver by the Red Sox. Ortiz's No. 34 will be retired in a ceremony p.
Ortiz thanked everyone from his family and Red Sox owners to former teammates, his agents, and even the team's batboy. Bobby Doerr and Joe Cronin waited 37 years, and Carlton Fisk and Jim Rice 20.
Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts (2) is called out on slide interference as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons loses control of the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Friday, June 23, 2017, in Boston.
How can the Red Sox ever repay the player nicknamed "Big Papi"?
In an unrelated move, the Red Sox claimed righthander Doug Fister off waivers; he's expected to start Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Huston Street pitched for the first time since July 31, 2016, having missed the end of last season with a knee injury and the start of this one with a strained lat. Street pitched a ideal inning, on 11 pitches, and his fastball was 88-90 miles per hour.
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The beloved slugger shook hands with virtually everyone on the field as he left it, accompanied by video from the careers of the other 10 players with their numbers retired.
Ortiz's farewell past year was a season-long affair in which he was showered with gifts on the road and celebrated for an entire weekend at Fenway.
Ortiz asked for No. 34 when he arrived in Boston before the 2003 season because he wanted to honor Minnesota Twins great Kirby Puckett. Porcello will look to get untracked Friday at Fenway Park against the Angels.
"I have been around for a long time and it's been a blessing being part of Boston", Ortiz said. "This city got me to where I am today". Of course, Ortiz also had a penchant for recording big hits.
OUR PREDICTION: The under is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these two teams and is 6-2-1 in the Red Sox' last nine home games.
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is the last holdover from the 2007 World Series team, made sure to note Ortiz has not been forgotten. He also praised the city's resiliency following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
"In one of the darkest moments of the city, he was somebody that lifted us right up", Walsh said, right before a pair of school buses drove by, with students hanging out the window and yelling "Big Papi!"
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