The Story of Big Papi
Few athletes have impacted a city the way that David Ortiz did Boston. As influential as anybody on the Red Sox for finally ending an 86-year World Series drought, Ortiz was an incredible ballplayer in Beantown, but he was more than that during his career. His postseason heroics turned him into a living legend. Today, Ortiz is one of the modern heroes of the city itself.
One of the most important Red Sox on the field and in The Hobby, let’s look at the cards and legacy of Big Papi.
Bowman & Beginnings
In 1996, David Ortiz was traded from Seattle to Minnesota. Within a year, he’d been called up to the big leagues. His debut came in September 1997, and he hit .327 in 15 games to end the year. His first Bowman card came in 1998 and remains one of his most important early cards.
An International Refractors version of the card is a fun early Ortiz offering. Using the base card image and design, a map of the Dominican Republic — Ortiz’s place of birth — sits in the background above his left shoulder. A PSA 10 is listed on Ebay for over $1,400, but the card can be found raw for as little as $29.
This 1998 Bowman Baseball card is another early Ortiz to chase — a fantastic image of Ortiz preparing to unleash his giant swing, featuring the wrist brace that he would spend years readjusting between at-bats. The auto version of the card has sold for as much as $788.
Bowman cards from his time with the Red Sox include the second-biggest sale of a David Ortiz card of all-time. This 2005 Bowman Chrome Baseball 1/1 Superfractor sold for $11,102 on April 26.
Interestingly, Ortiz’s first-ever Topps card is one he shares with fellow prospects of the time, Richie Sexson and Daryle Ward. The most recent sale of the Refractor version came on March 10 for $380.
Ortiz played with Minnesota through the 2002 season, making it all the way to the ALCS. In that final season with the Twins, Ortiz finished the year on a tear, hitting .297 with 15 homers and 42 RBI after the All-Star break. Surprisingly, the organization chose to release Ortiz in a move that has been lamented by Twins fans ever since.
It’s also a move that changed the history of Boston sports forever.
Ortiz Takes Beantown
As legend has it, free agent David Ortiz ran into Red Sox superstar Pedro Martinez at a restaurant in the Dominican Republic after Ortiz had been let go by the Twins. Pedro got on the horn with the Sox, and the rest is history.
After some early struggles, Ortiz got hot — red hot. He batted .333 in May, then .324 in June. The home runs came pouring in, with 21 dingers in his last 63 games. Ortiz’s meteoric rise led to a fifth-place finish in AL MVP voting, and he led the Sox back to the playoffs. While Boston would suffer more heartbreak at the hands of the Yankees in a seven-game loss in the ALCS, Ortiz helped reignite the organization and made the city believe that a championship was possible.
Ortiz’s first Topps card in Boston can be found in 2003 Topps Traded & Rookies Baseball. The Chrome X-Fractor sold for over $1,100 in 2024. The following year, Ortiz had a standout card in 2004 Topps Chrome Baseball. A spectacular action image shows Ortiz swinging through the zone, with the blur of the Fenway faithful behind him. His jersey pops out of the hand, and the coveted Red X-Fractor, and Black Refractor with red framing around the image are phenomenal color match cards to chase.
Becoming Big Papi
In 2004, David Ortiz became Big Papi, a nickname coined by legendary Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy. With 41 home runs and 139 RBI, Ortiz was named to his first All-Star team and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. He was turning from fan favorite to superstar in front of the city’s eyes.
The Comeback
The 2004 ALCS led to another transformation for Big Papi, this time moving from superstar to legend. With the Sox trailing 3-0 to the Yankees, Boston rallied to force extra innings. In the 12th frame, Ortiz launched a walk-off home run to give his team a chance. Hours later, he did it all over again, this time driving in the winning run in the 14th inning after a 10-pitch at-bat.
In the deciding Game 7, it was Ortiz who homered in the first inning to send Boston on their way to perhaps the most famous postseason victory in baseball history. A week later, the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. The curse was broken, and no one had done more to break the spell than David Ortiz.
In 2007, Ortiz helped Boston get back to the promised land, becoming champs for the second time in four years. His 2007 Topps Heritage Baseball card is an accessible option for Ortiz fans and collectors. The vintage feel combined with the Chrome refractor creates a beautiful modern Heritage card.
Boston Strong
2013 was a trying and triumphant year for Ortiz and the Red Sox. There was the tragedy of the Boston Marathon Bombing on April 15, which changed the city profoundly. Ortiz emerged as a unifying and hopeful figure for Boston in the aftermath. Only days later, he delivered a passionate speech at Fenway Park that remains one of the most moving moments in the history of the city.
“Boston Strong” became the city’s rallying cry, and amazingly, Ortiz would lead the Red Sox to a World Series title that year, winning World Series MVP while batting .688 over six games.
Big Papi’s Kids Make Bowman Debut
Ready to feel old? That’s right, David Ortiz’s sons David Jr. and D’Angelo are getting their 1st Bowman cards in the upcoming release of 2025 Bowman Baseball.
David plays in the Texas Rangers system, while D’Angelo was drafted by Boston in last year’s draft.
A Unique Legacy
Few athletes have been revered by a city like David Ortiz is by Boston. The slugger’s engaging and charming personality, combined with his otherworldly knack for the dramatic, has endeared him to Beantown forever.
By the time he retired, Ortiz had launched 541 regular-season home runs. He hit 17 in 85 postseason games. Above all, he built a legacy in Boston that can simply never be repeated.
