David Ortiz will inhabit much of the center stage in Boston this season, with standing ovations for him likely beginning at Fenway Park on April 11 for the home opener, and continuing until his final at-bat in the old ballpark, whenever that is. There will be gifts, words and memories, new and old.
Along the way, Ortiz likely will pass Eddie Murray on the all-time home run list, and Gary Sheffield, and Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks, and maybe more. There is a rung on that ladder worth paying particular attention to: Ortiz currently has 503 homers, and Ted Williams hit 521.