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Hall of Famer David Ortiz, aka Big Papi, has another name on his top rookie cards
David Ortiz is the first designated hitter to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the fifth Boston Red Sox star to make it in his first year of eligibility.
Not bad for a player known by three different names during his illustrious career.
When Ortiz was drafted at age 17 by the Seattle Mariners, he was known as David Arias — the name used on his first very baseball cards. In 1996, Arias was traded to the Minnesota Twins as a “player to be named later.” Upon arriving in Minnesota, he informed the organization that he preferred to be called David Ortiz, his paternal name. The name change was so confusing that it spawned jokes about Ortiz being literally “the player to be named later.”
After an injury-plagued, up-and-down, six-year career in Minnesota, Ortiz signed with Boston, where his legendary career took off and another name was born.
In 14 seasons with Boston, Ortiz, affectionately known as “Big Papi,” became one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, mashing 541 career home runs and finishing his career with a .931 OPS. In 2004, he hit 41 home runs and 139 home runs to lead the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years.
Two years later, Ortiz led the American League with 54 home runs, giving the Red Sox its own modern-day version of Babe Ruth — the legendary slugger they famously traded away in 1920.
Ortiz became one of the most productive players ever in the playoffs, batting .455 and slugging 17 home runs and driving in 61 runs in 85 playoff games to lead the Red Sox to three World Series titles. He was the World Series MVP in 2013.
In a year when legendary sluggers Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriquez and Ortiz teammate Manny Ramirez were passed over by Hall of Fame voters due to positive drug tests or their alleged involvement with performance-enhancing drugs, Ortiz rose above them all to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“I learned not too long ago how difficult it is to get in on the first ballot," Ortiz said on MLB Network from his home in the Dominican Republic. "Man, it's a wonderful honor to be able to get in on my first rodeo. It's something that is very special to me."
Big Papi was not only a Ruthian slugger, mashing behemoth home runs at Boston’s Fenway Park,
he had the gregarious personality to match. Already one of the Boston’s most popular players, he endeared himself to sports fans around the world when he rallied the city following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing by telling Fenway fans, “This is our f------ city! No one is going to dictate our freedom.”
Ortiz was one of the most beloved players in Red Sox history and widely respected throughout baseball. He joined such Red Sox legends as Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs and Pedro Martinez as first-ballot Hall of Famers.
"David Ortiz is the most important player to ever wear a Red Sox uniform," Red Sox president & CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement released by the team. "He came to Boston in relative anonymity and with his captivating personality and his formidable bat he shattered expectations and paved the franchise's future in championships."
He is the second Red Sox Hall of Famer from Boston’s 2004 championship team, joining teammate and close friend Pedro Martinez.
"When I first got to Boston, I used to look up at those guys like, 'Wow, I don't think you can be part of that pack at all,'" Ortiz said. "You're talking about real legendary, real OG. But they began their career just like I did. Not with the thought that they were going to end up where they are."
While Ortiz will go into the Hall of Fame as Big Papi, it is his original baseball name — David Arias — that is displayed on his first and most valuable baseball cards.
The value of Ortiz rookie cards varies widely, especially following his Hall of Fame selection, which sent many of his cards soaring.
Here’s a look at his top three highest-selling rookie cards, two of them with his original name.
1997 Fleer David Arias (David Ortiz) RC #152
A PSA 10 version of the card sold for $7,500 at Heritage Auctions in December 2020. Following his Hall of Fame selection, PSA 10 versions is selling for $600-900 on eBay.
1997 Donruss Signature David Ortiz Autograph #94
The Donruss card is the first Ortiz autograph card and also the first rookie card with Ortiz instead of Arias. Graded examples range from several hundred to a few thousands on eBay.
1997 Fleer Ultra David Arias (David Ortiz) #518
The Fleer Ultra series offered two different versions of the Ortiz rookie — a base card and Gold and Platinum Medallion parallels. Graded cards range from a few hundred to $1,500 on eBay.
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
