[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING DAVID ``BIG PAPI'' ORTIZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2018

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David ``Big 
Papi'' Ortiz who to this day stands as among the most feared hitters in 
Major League Baseball. His success as a player began with his journey 
from his home--our home--the Dominican Republic. It was Pedro Martinez, 
his fellow Dominican teammate on the Boston Red Sox, who said of David 
Ortiz, that ``A guy from a shack in the Dominican lifted up the hearts 
of an entire city.''
  No For all the fame and glory that ``Big Papi'' epitomized as No. 34, 
in Boston, his career began as No. 27 with the Minnesota Twins. His 
ascension to the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins was one measure 
of professional success, it was not permanent. Returning to the 
Dominican Republic and then the encouragement from his fellow 
countrymen that followed lent perspective that whatever happens--
however challenging on its face--presents opportunity. That new 
opportunity for unmatched success and a storied career in baseball 
began with the Boston Red Sox in 2003.
  In the Dominican Republic, baseball is beloved. When anyone Dominican 
succeeds, we all succeed. And yes, we celebrate those successes. What 
we celebrate is that in each generation, there becomes more permanent a 
sense that no matter where you are born or whether you lived in a 
shack, you can succeed. It means that anyone born in Santo Domingo, 
Manoguayabo, Nizao, Laguna Verde, San Pedro de Macoris, Hato Mayor, 
Altamira, Villa Gonzalez, Monte Cristi, or Samana can look to David 
Ortiz and know that they too can emulate his resilience and fortitude 
and achieve his degree of success and beyond.
  In recognizing David Ortiz, I would be remiss to not share his 
professional accolades. While some came at the expense of MY New York 
Yankees, no one can deny his dominance: 7x Edgar Martinez Outstanding 
DH of The Year; 7x American League Silver Slugger; 10x American League 
All-Star; 2011 Roberto Clemente Award Winner; 2x American League Hank 
Aaron Award Winner. And then there is the Post-Season: 2004 American 
League Champion Series Most Valuable Player; 3x Major League Baseball 
World Series Champion; and 2013 World Series Most Valuable Player. And 
it all began after graduating from Estudia Espaillat High School.
  I end with the inimitable words of Pedro Martinez, ``Whether you 
loved David or hated him, he gave you everything to love or hate. He 
was a force of nature. He was a big brother to a lot of Latin players . 
. . Nobody--none of the other players from the Dominican, including 
me--does more for society than David. He's a better man than he is a 
baseball player.'' As the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. 
Congress, it is my distinct pleasure to celebrate David Ortiz--``Big 
Papi''--for all his success.

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