Usually, these aren’t big news. But today in New York State, something odd happened. A resolution was passed to honor former Red Sox player David Ortiz, who was notorious for causing trouble for the New York Yankees.
State Senator Luis Sepulveda from the Bronx introduced this resolution to celebrate Ortiz’s impact on baseball. It’s the 20th anniversary of the Red Sox coming back from a 3-0 series deficit to beat the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.
You might be scratching your head. Why honor Ortiz in New York? Sure, he did some charity work there, but he’s a hero in Boston. He played a big role in helping the Red Sox defeat the Yankees when their rivalry was at its peak. Ortiz’s clutch hits in games 4 and 5 turned the tide for the Red Sox, who went on to make history by being the first team to bounce back from a 3-0 deficit in MLB.
The Red Sox went on to win the 2004 World Series, their first since 1918, while the Yankees’ dominance dwindled. Since then, the Yankees have only made one World Series appearance, winning in 2009.
Ortiz was a nightmare for the Yankees throughout his time with the Red Sox. In over 200 games against them, he had impressive stats, proving to be a thorn in their side.
So, why honor Ortiz in New York? It’s a bit strange, considering he’s a rival to one of the state’s biggest teams. It’s like Ohio honoring Jim Harbaugh. The Gothamist tried to explain why, and here’s what they said.
Yeah, this still makes no sense. I’m not saying local Bronx residents should vote out Sepulveda over this. But, I’m not saying they shouldn’t, either.
