Red Sox Great David Ortiz Honored by New York State Legislature

Dan Gartland | May 13, 2024

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Lawmakers in New York state passed a resolution on Monday to honor an unlikely MLB great: David Ortiz. Of the Boston Red Sox. You know, the same David Ortiz who hit three home runs in Boston’s improbable victory in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees.

The resolution was introduced by state senator Luis Sepúlveda, who represents a district in the Bronx in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. The bill seeks to honor Ortiz “for his contributions to baseball, in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the 2004 World Series.” It notes his role in helping the Red Sox win three World Series and how New York fans “embraced him not only as a fierce competitor but also as a beloved figure in baseball.”

So why did Sepúlveda and the State of New York choose to honor Ortiz? The resolution points out that he is involved in several philanthropic efforts in New York and in his native Dominican Republic. (More than 20% of Bronx residents are of Dominican descent.) It notes that Ortiz has leveraged “his celebrity status to raise awareness and substantial funds for various causes, thus directly benefiting children and communities across the state.” It makes no mention of the 53 home runs he hit against the Yankees in his career.

Ortiz isn’t the first Yankees rival to be honored at the state capitol in Albany. In 2015, former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martínez was honored by the Assembly as part of Dominican Heritage Week. Martínez actually appeared in person in the Assembly chamber to be presented with an award for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to Dominican-American culture. Honoring Martínez made a little more sense than Ortiz, considering Martínez played four seasons for the New York Mets.