Friday’s game marked another David Ortiz milestone and it was a big one. With his 4th inning home run Ortiz set a new Red Sox franchise record: 8 seasons with 30+ home runs and 100+ RBIs (2003-07, 2010, 2013-14). In so doing Ortiz eclipsed the 7-seasons of Hall of Famer Ted Williams (1939, 1941-42, 1946-47, 1949, 1951). Since 2003 no other left-handed hitter has more than 6 such seasons. At 38 years old, Ortiz is also the oldest to reach this mark since Frank Thomas in 2006.
Big Papi went on to hit a second home run in the 10th inning of Friday’s game, the 465th of his career and tying him with Dave Winfield at No. 33 on baseball’s All-Time Home Run list (another home run Saturday night gave Ortiz sole possession of No. 33). It was Ortiz’ 47th career game with multiple home runs (each of them with two).
With 6 games remaining in the season, Ortiz needs just two more roundtrippers to tie Braves great Chipper Jones at No. 32 on the All-Time Home Run list. He also needs 4 more RBI to tie Joe DiMaggio and Harry Heilmann at No. 45 on MLB’s All-Time RBI list.
The 10th inning bomb Friday was Ortiz’ 3rd extra-innings home run of 2014, the most of any player in MLB this season.
David Ortiz’ 35 home runs thus far in 2014 are his most in a single season since belting 35 in 2007. His HR high in any season is 54 in 2006.
Ortiz’ 104 RBI thus far eclipses his whole-year tally of 103 last season and is his most in a single season since collecting 117 in 2007. Ortiz’ most RBIs in one season was 148 in 2005. This 8th season with 100+ RBI ties Ortiz with Jim Rice for 2nd-most in club history. Ted Williams had a club-best 9 such seasons.