There was nothing flashy or outlandish about David Ortiz’s Hall of Fame induction speech in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Sunday afternoon, but there didn’t need to be.
Wearing a blue suit with a bright red tie to match his red cufflinks and pocket square, Ortiz was the final member of this year’s class to take the stage and delivered a simple, but moving speech in front of a large crowd and most living members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
After his daughter, Alex Veda Ortiz, a sophomore at Berklee, sung a passionate version of the national anthem, her dad began his speech by saying, “hopefully, this will inspire everyone to believe in yourself.”
Weaving personal stories in and out of a long list of thank yous, Ortiz floated between English and Spanish as he tactfully engaged the crowd while keeping his story moving.
It was a perfect speech for the moment. It was simple and understated, but hit all the right notes (and the right names) as he dabbed his sweating forehead with a white handkerchief and somehow managed to avoid any tears.
Having arrived in America from the Dominican Republic as a teenager, he began his career in the low levels of the Seattle Mariners organization. He wasn’t an immediate success, hitting .246 with two homers in 53 games during his first pro season in rookie ball, but found his way to the big leagues three years later with the Minnesota Twins.
Taking the podium after former Twins players and fellow 2022 inductees Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat, Ortiz thanked both of them and the Twins organization for “having my back” during parts of six seasons in Minnesota.
He took a moment to remember the late Kirby Puckett, who inspired Ortiz to wear No. 34.
He thanked the United States of America for letting him fulfill his dreams, then told all Americans they have an open invitation to the Dominican beaches “when you guys are freezing here.”
The large crowd in Cooperstown laughed, but Ortiz reminded them, “Before I was Big Papi, I was just a kid playing ball in the Dominican Republic.”
When it came time to thank the Red Sox, the crowd went wild. Ortiz mentioned Sox ownership, which signed him before the 2003 season for $1.25 million after he had been released by the Twins.
Ortiz, who reached at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs during each of his first five seasons with the Red Sox, gave individual shoutouts to those in the front office, including “my man Sam Kennedy,” the team president and Brookline native who has been part of the organization for more than 20 years.
“That organization made me the man I am today,” Ortiz said. “They educated me about the game but also about my life, community service, connecting with people, the Jimmy Fund, and the children’s fund. That is why I started the David Ortiz Children’s Fund that provides life saving opportunities for children in the Dominican Republic and New England.”
One of the big lessons he learned early in his career was the way he could impact the lives of those around him.
“I now know what it feels like to have someone supporting you at the hospital,” said Ortiz, who was shot by a Dominican drug-trafficker in 2019.
Ortiz then remembered his teammates and managers in Boston, and shared a story of his first Red Sox manager, Grady Little.
When Ortiz was in spring training in ‘03, he successfully moved a runner over in his first at-bat. He returned to the dugout expecting high-fives, but the dugout was silent.
According to Ortiz, Little approached him and said, “hey big boy, I don’t want you to be here to move them over. I want you to be here to bring them in.”
Said Ortiz, “The rest is history.”
He thanked former Sox managers Terry Francona and John Farrell for believing in him. Francona managed the Sox during their titles in ‘04 and ‘07, while Farrell led them to a title during his first year as Sox manager in ‘13.
“These guys did nothing but build my confidence, even through tough times,” Ortiz said. “I love you guys and will always have you guys in my heart.”
He thanked “the idiots” of 2004 and told a story of Dustin Pedroia grabbing him by the neck and saying, “if you keep pulling the ball, I’m gonna whoop you.”
“Guess what?” Ortiz said. “Papi caught on fire.”
He remembered the ‘13 season and the Boston Marathon bombing, saying, “I’ve never seen a community bounce back and reunited like Boston.”
Ortiz turned around and pointed to Pedro Martinez, who had tears in his eyes, for one final thank you.
He ended his Red Sox love with this: “When I think about Boston, I think about the last game I played (in the 2016 postseason). Standing on that field at Fenway Park, it felt like the whole area of New England and each one of you was surrounding me and showing you all the love. I will always be there for you, Boston. I love you, Boston.”
Then he finished his speech the way he started it: “If my story reminds you of anything,” Ortiz said, “let it remind you that if you believe in someone, it can change their world, it can change their future, just like somebody believed in me.”
