On Tuesday night, David Ortiz heard those special words.
“I’m calling you from Cooperstown, New York ...”
The Red Sox shared a video from the moment Ortiz learned he would be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot candidate on Tuesday night.
You can watch here:
Cooperstown is calling! pic.twitter.com/de1K5bHxlZ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 25, 2022
After hearing that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America decided he was a Hall of Famer, Ortiz immediately stood up in celebration with tears in his eyes.
He turned to his right and hugged his close friend, countryman, and former teammate Pedro Martinez. He turned to his left, to his agent Fern Cuza, and got another hug.
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Finally, he sought out his father, Leo, who was by his side throughout his baseball journey, for a long embrace.
Ortiz became the fifth Red Sox player to gain entrance to the Hall on the first ballot, joining Wade Boggs, Pedro Martinez, Carl Yastrzemski, and Ted Williams.
Read more about Ortiz:
- Slugger David Ortiz, Red Sox legend and three-time World Series champ, elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
- Dan Shaughnessy: David Ortiz’s election seems to be another sign of a shift in Hall of Fame voting philosophy
- Interactive: David Ortiz is headed to the Hall of Fame. Explore all of the 558 career home runs that helped get him there.
- Behind the scenes: David Ortiz already had a presence in the Hall of Fame. Now he’ll be immortalized.
- David Ortiz’s journey through Major League Baseball to the Hall of Fame | Photos
- Read David Ortiz’s statement on being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens issue statements after falling short in Hall of Fame vote
- See the final vote totals for the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame election
- How Boston Globe writers voted for the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame