BOSTON -- For 14 years, David Ortiz looked to the right-field facade in Fenway Park during batting practice, believing he could hit a home run off the retired numbers but never thinking his would someday be among them.
On Friday night, it actually happened.
Eight months after playing his final game, Ortiz had his No. 34 retired by the Boston Red Sox in a ceremony before the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Big Papi became the 10th person to be so honored by the Sox, joining Ted Williams (9), Joe Cronin (4), Bobby Doerr (1), Carl Yastrzemski (8), Carlton Fisk (27), Johnny Pesky (6), Jim Rice (14), Pedro Martinez (45) and Wade Boggs (26).