On the 7th anniversary of the Red Sox signing of free agent David Ortiz, it got me thinking....which player was the greatest free agent signing in Red Sox history?
There have been some great players that have come via trade to the Red Sox such as Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez.
However, there have really only been a handful of free agents that have made a big impact.
Guys like Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, and Tim Wakefield have all been big signings for Boston as they were instrumental in bringing World Championships to town.
However, it comes down to two players...and two players who will be forever linked together: Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
From 2003 through 2007 when the Sox won two World Series titles and went to Game 7 of another ALCS, Ortiz and Ramirez combined to hit 388 home runs while driving in 1, 210 runs. That's an average of 78 home runs and 242 RBI each season...or an average per person of 39 home runs and 121 RBI each season.
Pretty sick numbers.
And, while Manny was worth the 20-million that he averaged while here, Ortiz stood out because of his late-game heroics.
It's amazing when you look back now and realize just what David did in 2003 and 2004. It leaves you shaking your head:
2003
ALDS vs Oak
--Sox trail the series 2 games to 1 and are behind 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th in Game 4 when Ortiz delivers a two-run, two-out double off of Keith Foulke to force a 5th and deciding game that the Sox win to take the series.
ALCS vs NYY
--Game 1....Ortiz breaks a scoreless tie with a two-run homer off Mike Mussina in the 4th inning. The Sox win 5-2.
--Game 6...Sox down 3 games to 2...Ortiz breaks a 1-1 tie in the 3rd inning with a two-run single. The Sox then trail 6-5 in the top of the 7th inning. Ortiz delievers an RBI single to tie it at 6-6. He later scores the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk to Johnny Damon. The Sox inw it 9-6 to force the 7th and deciding game.
--Game 7...Ortiz rips a solo home run in the 8th inning to give the Sox a 5-2 lead heading into that dreaded bottom of the 8th. You know what happens from here.
2004
ALDS vs Angels
--Game 1....Ortiz opens the scoring with an RBI single....Sox roll to an easy 9-3 victory.
--Game 3....Ortiz has 4 hits...including the game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Sox complete the three-game sweep of the Angels.
ALCS vs NYY
--Game 4...The Red Sox are down 3 games to none. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the 5th inning, Ortiz bangs a two-run single to give Boston a 3-2 lead. Then in the bottom of the 12th...he rips a two-run homer off Paul Quantrill to lift the Sox to the win. Boston stays alive.
--Game 5...Ortiz has an RBI single in the 1st to give the Sox a 1-01 lead. Boston was down 4-2 entering the bottom of the 8th inning...when he hits a solo homer off Tom Gordon. The Sox tie it at 4-4 on the Varitek Sac fly. Now to the 14th inning...and David deliever again...a two-out RBI single off Esteban Loaiza as the Sox walk off with a 5-4 win to force a Game Six in NY...
--Game 7...Ortiz gets the Sox going right away with a two-run 1st inning home run off Kevin Brown. The Sox never look back en rout to their 10-3 victory.
World Series vs St. Louis
--Game 1...Ortiz blasts a three-run homer in the 1st inning as the Sox pick up right where they left off in NY. He would later add an RBI single in the 7th inning to make it a 9-7 Sox lead. They would go on to win it 11-9 and go on to sweep the Cardinals for their first WS crown in 86 years.
Shortly after, Ortiz was deemed the "greatest clutch hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox".
What you just read pretty much explains why Ortiz is not only the best Sox free agent signing ever, but arguably the best free agent signing in the history of the game.
Happy Anniversary David...the Red Sox...and all Sox fans.