MINNEAPOLIS -- Tucked away in Bob Tewksbury's home, among the more random mementos from his 13-year major league career, is a black Louisville Slugger C243 with a curious autograph on the barrel.
"It says, 'To Bob, Big Cat. David Ortiz,'" said Tewksbury, a former right-handed pitcher whose final two seasons (1997-98) with the Minnesota Twins coincided with Ortiz's first two. "That's what he signed on my bat. I guess he was 'Big Cat' then."
Ortiz laughs at the mention of his little-known nickname. He doesn't remember being identified as "Big Cat," but then there's a lot the retiring Boston Red Sox icon chooses to forget from his six seasons with the Twins.