Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz has been a postseason hero several times over during his potentially Hall of Fame worthy career. This year, though, with his Boston Red Sox long eliminated from the October scene, he's changing his role up in order to help the Red Sox and Major League Baseball honor real life heroes in the military.
During a recent gathering at Fenway Park, Ortiz surprised a group of three veteran and current military members by playing tour guide for their visit. That was a big hit with the stunned group, but as CBS Boston notes, that was only the appetizer to the biggest news of the day. Before the experience was over, Ortiz also surprised each of them and their families with tickets to Game 1 of the World Series.
Ortiz, whose impassioned speech following the Boston Marathon bombing served as a rallying point for the city, was a great choice to get involved by the Red Sox and MLB. He doesn't mince words or hold back when it comes to speaking his mind, or showing support for those who protect and defend his city and his new country.
In addition to his role in this outstanding moment, Ortiz will have a further impact on the World Series. While he won't be starring at the plate or slugging his way to Series MVP, he will be serving as an analyst for Fox Sports during its pre- and postgame coverage.
During a recent gathering at Fenway Park, Ortiz surprised a group of three veteran and current military members by playing tour guide for their visit. That was a big hit with the stunned group, but as CBS Boston notes, that was only the appetizer to the biggest news of the day. Before the experience was over, Ortiz also surprised each of them and their families with tickets to Game 1 of the World Series.
Tom Pittman (who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan), Doug Whalen (two tours in Iraq), Molly Alesch (an active servicewoman in the Massachusetts National Guard) and their families all arrived at Fenway Park recently, but weren’t given many details about their trip. They didn’t know Ortiz would be their tour guide, and they were even more surprised when he offered up a game of catch.
That in itself would have been a day to remember, but it wasn’t done yet.
When they thought their special day was over, Ortiz surprised them with tickets to Game 1 of the 2014 World Series.
All three will be honored during the seventh-inning stretch as the Kansas City Royals host the San Francisco Giants in the World Series opener at Kauffman Stadium. The experience is organized by Bank of America, the Red Sox Foundation and the Massachusetts General Home Base Program. The program is designed to surprise military veterans with a “once in a lifetime experience,” and this certainly meets the criteria.
Ortiz, whose impassioned speech following the Boston Marathon bombing served as a rallying point for the city, was a great choice to get involved by the Red Sox and MLB. He doesn't mince words or hold back when it comes to speaking his mind, or showing support for those who protect and defend his city and his new country.
“You guys are defenders, the reason why we are who we are,” Ortiz told the three, later adding, “whenever I see my kids and family running around the back yard, it’s because of them.”
That sums it up perfectly.
In addition to his role in this outstanding moment, Ortiz will have a further impact on the World Series. While he won't be starring at the plate or slugging his way to Series MVP, he will be serving as an analyst for Fox Sports during its pre- and postgame coverage.
