David Ortiz was known for his thunderous swing, his smile that could light up Fenway Park, and his uncanny ability to rise in the biggest moments. But behind every home run and every celebration, there was a quiet promise — one that the world is only now learning.
In an emotional interview earlier this week, the Boston Red Sox legend revealed that for nearly two decades, he carried his late father’s old wedding ring in his pocket before every game. It wasn’t for superstition or luck. It was love — a connection to the man who shaped him, even long after he was gone.
“Every time I stepped onto that field,” Ortiz said softly, “I felt like my dad was with me. I’d touch the ring before I went to bat and say, ‘This one’s for you, Papi.’”
Ortiz’s father, Enrique Ortiz, passed away when David was still a young player chasing his baseball dream in the Dominican Republic. He never saw his son become Big Papi — the face of Boston baseball, a three-time World Series champion, and one of the most beloved figures in MLB history. That loss became the fuel that drove Ortiz to greatness, but it also carried a deep ache that he kept hidden behind his laughter and charisma.
“I wish he could’ve seen it all — the lights, the crowd, the championships,” Ortiz continued. “But maybe he did. Maybe he saw it from up there.”
Teammates who spent years alongside Ortiz say they never knew about the ring. “He was always so upbeat, so full of life,” said former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek. “To know he was carrying that kind of memory every game — it makes everything he did even more meaningful.”
The story first surfaced after a fan spotted Ortiz touching his pocket during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2022. At the time, few understood why. Now, it’s clear that gesture wasn’t habit — it was homage. “I felt him that day,” Ortiz admitted. “He’s the reason I became who I am. He’s my why.”
For Red Sox fans, the revelation adds another layer to a legend already rich in emotion. Big Papi’s bond with Boston has always been about more than baseball — it’s about heart. From his defiant words after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing (“This is our f***ing city!”) to his mentorship of younger players, Ortiz has embodied the city’s resilience and compassion. Knowing that he carried his father’s love with him only deepens that connection.
On social media, fans have responded with tears and admiration. One tweet read, “Now every Ortiz home run feels different — like it was a message to heaven.” Another wrote, “He wasn’t just playing for Boston. He was playing for his dad.”
Ortiz’s story reminds us that even in the world of bright lights and roaring crowds, athletes are often guided by unseen forces — by memory, by love, by promises whispered long ago.
“People always say I made my dad proud,” Ortiz said, smiling faintly. “But truth is, he’s the one who made me brave enough to swing.”
It’s a story that transcends baseball — a son’s tribute, a father’s legacy, and a wedding ring that turned every at-bat into a prayer.
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