BOSTON—They knew it was coming, but they didn’t know when. David Ortiz had long ago announced that this, his 14th season with the Red Sox, would be his last, and despite the fact that he’d somehow produced one of his finest years—a .315 batting average, 38 home runs, 127 RBIs—his resolve to retire had never wavered. But Boston fans couldn’t be sure which would prove his final game. They had every reason to imagine it would come several weeks from now, perhaps even in early November in the World Series, as the Red Sox were considered the favorite to win the American League pennant and had drawn the Indians, with their desperately depleted pitching staff, in the best-of-five Division Series.
Big Papi bids Boston adieu: Behind the scenes of David Ortiz's final game
