- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Big Papi honored in Yankee Stadium finale
- Updated: September 30, 2016
NEW YORK — The Yankees put the heat of their long-standing rivalry with the Red Sox aside for a few minutes on Thursday night with a thoughtful ceremony to honor David Ortiz, who played his 117th and final game in the Bronx.
Ortiz’s former teammate and current Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury came on to the field along with retired pitcher David Cone to present the slugger with a custom-created leather-bound book before the Red Sox’s 5-1 loss.
The contents consisted of handwritten letters to Ortiz from current and former Yankees greats.
• Shop for postseason gear
“That blew my mind,” said Ortiz. “Some handwritten notes in there from some of my ex-teammates and guys I competed against for a long time. It was super nice.”
One of those greats was retired closer Mariano Rivera, and he came out to present Big Papi with his second gift from the Yankees, a commissioned oil painting in which Ortiz was illustrated doffing his helmet at Yankee Stadium.
Ortiz created a similar image a few moments later, when he tipped his cap to the fans at the conclusion of the …
