But let’s take a moment to remember, when two bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013, killing three people and injuring nearly 300. Five days later, the Red Sox played their first home game at Fenway Park, where Ortiz gave a speech that brought the house down. He said, and I quote, “This is our (expletive) city. And nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong.” And boy, did that speech ever light a fire under the Red Sox!

Ortiz’s speech became an instant classic and inspired the team to go on and win the World Series that year. The newly enshrined hall of famer understands the impact that speech had, saying, “You know what, 10 years later I can tell you about the impact of what I say (had). To be honest with you, I’m so proud it was taken that way. You don’t know, sometimes somebody needs to push that button. I think I did.”

And let’s not forget about the feedback that Ortiz has been receiving from people all around the world. Everyone is talking about that “this is our (expletive) city” moment, and we couldn’t be prouder of Big Papi for delivering it.

Looking back on that year, Ortiz said, “We ended up winning, right. It was a real movie. It was a real-life story and we were all part of it.” And what a story it was! Ortiz was the MVP of the Series, helping the Red Sox clinch their first title at home in 95 years. It was a truly historic moment for Boston sports, and Ortiz played a huge role in making it happen.

So, let’s all raise a glass to David Ortiz and his iconic speech. He may not be playing baseball anymore, but his impact on the sport and the city of Boston will never be forgotten.