McAdam: Legacy of David Ortiz goes far beyond baseball

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On the last day of the final regular season of David Ortiz's glorious career, the focus, strangely, was not about baseball.

Sure, there was a game still to be played, one of consequence for both teams.

But on Sunday, this wasn't about the slugger and his countless homers and innumerable big hits.

This was about the real legacy of David Ortiz, and the lives he's touched, the people he's impacted, the city over which he's ruled.

This was about David Ortiz, the man.

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The records, you already know about. And his role in bringing three World Series championships to Fenway.

But even extraordinary players do not attract the dignitaries that flocked to Fenway, including the governor of the commonwealth, the mayor of the city and president of your native country.

Mixed in among the career highlights shown on the center field scoreboard, alongside the walkoff hits and championship celebrations, was footage of the children who received life-saving surgeries as a result of the David Ortiz Foundation, which has focused on providing medical care to the Dominican Republic.

There was no more gripping moment than the sight of a small child sprinting from his seat to wrap Ortiz in a bear hug at mid-field. And no aspect of the ceremony touched Ortiz more than the donation of a $1 million -- $500,000 each from the Red Sox foundation and Red Sox ownership and partners.

Interspersed with the on-field heroics, of course, were highlights of Ortiz's role in helping the city and region recover from the Boston Marathon bombings.

There was the infamous -- and appropriately profane -- message on the field during the first home game following the tragedy, and his return to the finish line, months later, to place the latest World Series trophy in commemoration.

In Saturday's ceremony, Ortiz embraced a host of the bombing's survivors, some of whom had lost limbs. Each seemed to hold Ortiz in awe, more evidence of his impact.

"What he's done off the field,'' noted Boston mayor Marty Walsh, " is almost as big as what he's done on the field. What he's done with his foundation and really lifting this city up after the marathon bombings. Everyone climbed on his back and he just got this city back on track. He's done an awful lot off the field.''

Citing Ortiz's role in 2004, 2007 and 2013, Governor Charlie Baker said "there's a positivity about the team that ends being reflected in the city and how people feel about things.''

The 2013 championship, in particular, Baker noted was "cathartic for the city.''

Which is why the overpass on Brookline Avenue, steps from the ballpark and crossing over the Mass Pike, will now be known as Big Papi Bridge.

"It's a fitting tribute to somebody who's about much more than sports,'' said Baker.

The parade of past and present teammates showed the affection for Ortiz transcends all the runs he's knocked in and all the games he's helped win.

Beyond the numbers, there's the many bits of advice he's given and encouragement he's provided to young players and veterans alike. They weren't embracing the back of his baseball card; they were paying tribute to his humanity.

There's more baseball to be played after Sunday, and thus, more chances to add to his baseball legacy. There could still be a well-timed homer or two this month to further cement his baseball immortality.

But before all of that, Sunday was one more reminder that, for this larger than life figure, his biggest contributions went well beyond the box score.

 

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