COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- The National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted seven new members during induction ceremonies on Sunday. But the afternoon of speechifying, poignance and remembrance belonged to Big Papi.
"Wow! Cooperstown!" began David Ortiz, kicking off his speech to the crowd sprawled across the grounds at the Clark Sports Complex. The gathering was heavily flavored with Red Sox gear sporting Ortiz's No. 34, not to mention numerous flags representing the Dominican Republic, where Ortiz was born.
Ortiz became the first career designated hitter to be selected on his first ballot when this year's round of results were announced in January.