#Shortstops: Shirt off the Winner's Back

"A Babe Ruth-type savant," New York Yankees Álex Rodríguez said of Ortiz in an ESPN article. "A-plus-plus-plus. An A-plus work ethic, A-plus in his video work and an A-plus for playing at a high level."

In the 2004 regular season, Ortiz recorded 41 home runs, 139 RBI, a .301 batting average and multiple game-winning hits to send the Red Sox to the World Series.

When entering the final postseason matchups with the St. Louis Cardinals in late October, Ortiz was determined to finish what he was called to do.

“He’s been in the zone all year,” Red Sox hitting coach Ron Jackson said to The Boston Globe. “The concentration is the main thing. He’s having all good at-bats. He’s hitting the ball to left field, right field and up the middle.

“And, when the game is on the line, he’s been a clutch hitter. I’ve been around a lot of great ones, including Frank Thomas and Albert Belle, and David tops them all, right now.”

In the final division series game that determined the Red Sox’s fate against the Los Angeles Angels, Ortiz hit a no-doubt walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.

After an epic ALCS vs. the Yankees, Ortiz would go on to help the Red Sox sweep the Cardinals in four games.

During the World Series, Ortiz took the field as a starting first baseman for two games in St. Louis, which caused concern in “Red Sox Nation” since Ortiz was primarily a designated hitter. He had 31 starts at first base that season and committed four errors.

“Every day I work the bag a little bit,” Ortiz told The Boston Globe. “One day, I’d like to possibly get a chance to play [in the field.] I’m only 28 years old. I don’t want everyone to know me as just a hitter.”

With the Red Sox beating the Cardinals 3-0 in Game 4, Ortiz and the Red Sox completed their mission.