David Ortiz Hits 522nd Career Home Run, Moves Into 19th Place All Time
Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has said he’ll retire after this season. If so, he’s going out in style. On July 1st, Ortiz hit his 522nd career home run in the Red Sox’ 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Ortiz passed three Hall of Famers whom he was tied with at 521: Willie McCovey, Frank Thomas, and Red Sox legend Ted Williams. Ortiz is now 19th on the all time home run list. The home run was a solo shot, but the one run batted in was the 1705th of his career, moving him into 23rd place all time on that list, coincidently passing Frank Thomas again.
Ortiz is putting up some huge numbers, and we wonder if he’ll reconsider retirement and play another year. In 73 games this season he’s hitting .342 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs, 31 doubles, has a .435 on base percentage, a .684 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.119. Not bad for a guy who turns 41 in November.
Ortiz has a chance to pass two other Hall of Famers in home runs this season: Jimmie Foxx (534) and Mickey Mantle (536). He could also pass another Hall of Famer, Honus Wagner (1732), for 22nd place in RBIs. Ortiz should figure in the discussion for a place of his own in the Hall of Fame in the future.
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I really don’t think of Papi as proficient of a home run hitter as the guys he passed (only three years with 40+): most certainly not in the same thoughts as Mantle, Foxx, or Williams (who lost a few prime years to military service). I like to believe that Ortiz has earned it though, even during the age of disgrace.