by David Ortiz
First published 2014
David "Big Papi" Ortiz opens his life story without filters or political correctness. The Dominican Republic native chronicles his path from impoverished beginnings through minor league struggles to becoming Boston's most beloved slugger. Ortiz details his rocky start when Florida passed on signing him over tennis elbow concerns, his difficult years with Minnesota's Tom Kelly, and his transformative arrival in Boston. He revisits the crushing 2003 Yankees defeat, the miraculous 2004 comeback from a 3-0 deficit that broke the curse, and championship runs in 2007 and 2013. The memoir covers his response to the 2009 banned substances controversy, his role rallying Boston after the Marathon bombing, and his dominance through age 40. Ortiz shares candid opinions about teammates, opponents, coaches, and baseball's problems while examining the pressure of delivering clutch hits when fans needed them most. This unvarnished account reveals how a poor kid from the Caribbean became the heart of a franchise and city.
Genres: biography, autobiography, memoir, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, underdog
Setting: Boston, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Florida, Minnesota
Period: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013
262 pages · Hardcover · Mariner Books