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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Former MLB player David Ortiz looks on prior to the New York Yankees playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz, better known as ‘Big Papi,’ has a rivalry with former MLB umpire Joe West that’s sure to make you smile. 

Joe West and Big Papi: A Feud for the Ages

West recently appeared on a show with MLB insider Jeff Passan and Yankee manager Aaron Boone, where he revealed his story. 

“Big Papi, when he first came to the big leagues, he was a Twin,” West recalled. “They put him in as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of a spring training game. When he finished throwing the ball around to the infielders, he came back toward me, and I said, “Y’know, I hope you play in this league a long time,” and he said, “Well, thank you, thank you very much,” and I said “Cause long as you’re in this league I won’t be the ugliest guy in it.”” 

Boone and Passan laughed in tandem at the tongue-in-cheek interaction between a grizzled veteran umpire and an unestablished future Hall-of-Fame slugger. 

West continued, “I don’t think he spoke to me for 13 years. So now he goes and gets traded to the Red Sox, becomes their All-Star player and the MVP of the playoffs and the World Series, he could’ve run for mayor in Boston! And then he announced his retirement. He came to bat in May that year when he announced his retirement, and he says, “I have something to tell you,” and I said, “I don’t wanna hear it. Get in the box, you take too long to play (jokingly),” and he says “No, no just let me tell you one thing,” and I said “Alright, tell me ONE thing and then get in the box,” he said, “You know I’m retiring. Next year you’ll be the ugliest guy in the league.” 

West laughed at the memory of a formidable slugger and Boston icon revisiting a joke over 13 years old during his career twilight. 

David Ortiz is a Boston Legend 

Ortiz didn’t just have a good personality; he terrorized pitchers. The rigorous left-handed swing clouted balls over the wall at an alarming rate, to the excitement of the Boston faithful and the alarm of any opposing arm. 

The left-hander amassed 55.1 career WAR via Baseball Reference and had a hardware collection for the ages. Big Papi must’ve been a sucker for his trophy case, as he ended with a Roberto Clemente Award, ten All-Star selections, three World Series wins, a World Series MVP, an ALCS MVP, seven Silver Slugger awards, a Home Run Derby win, and, to top it all off, a selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

The Dominican Republic native finished with over 2400 career hits, 541 home runs, a .931 career OPS, and an astounding 17 stolen bases. Known for his speed, catchers feared the fleet-footed Ortiz. 

Beyond the homers, clutch moments, and timeless victories, Papi gifted the city of Boston; he stood out in the ranks of a historical organization. The Red Sox have seen the likes of Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Pedro Martinez, and Carl Yastrzemski. Nobody united the city of Boston like Big Papi.