Did you know: Big Papi’s big numbers

The baseball landscape changed when David Ortiz signed with the Red Sox on Jan. 22, 2003. A promising slugger who couldn’t find a permanent spot in the Twins’ lineup, Ortiz transformed himself from a project to one of baseball’s most formidable hitters nearly overnight — and turned around the fortunes of a previously snake-bitten franchise.

As the baseball world prepares to say goodbye to Big Papi, here’s a look at some of the most important facts and figures from his incredible career:

• Ortiz leads the Major Leagues with 524 doubles and has paced the American League with 483 home runs since joining the Red Sox in 2003. He also ranks in the top 10 among all MLB players with 1,133 walks (second), a .570 slugging percentage (second), 1,023 extra-base hits (second), 1,530 RBI (third), 148 OPS+ (fifth) and 2,079 hits (eighth) over that span.

• Ortiz’s power numbers have been as consistent as anyone since he arrived in Boston. This season marked his 10th campaign with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, giving Ortiz more 30/100 seasons than any player in Red Sox history (Ted Williams is second with seven). That total of 10 is also tied with Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols for the most of any player in the Majors since 2003.

Ortiz’s eight seasons with at least 30 doubles and 30 home runs is also the most in Red Sox history, and falls just behind the nine such seasons compiled by Cabrera and Pujols since 2003.

• There’s no question Ortiz will be remembered as one of the greatest designated hitters to ever play the game. Among players who spent at least 50 percent of their careers as a DH, Ortiz tops the list in several offensive categories — including home runs (541), doubles (632) and RBIs (1,768) — and ranks near the top with a .552 slugging percentage (second), 2,472 hits (second), 1,419 runs scored (second), 1,319 walks (second) and a 141 OPS+ rating (third).

Ortiz has also tallied the most game-winning RBIs (212) and go-ahead RBIs (412) of anyone who’s played the majority of his games as a DH since the AL instituted the position in 1973.

• Unsurprisingly, Ortiz ranks among the all-time best Red Sox hitters at Fenway Park. In the 104-year history of the ballpark, Ortiz ranks behind only Carl Yastrzemski in doubles (322), Williams and Yastrzemski in home runs (221) and is fifth in slugging percentage (.592).

Ortiz might have topped those categories had he started his career with the Red Sox, as he played in 152 fewer regular-season games …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com