In those early months he was just David Ortiz,

a low-risk free agent who'd been released by the Twins.

Ortiz played only 60 percent of Sox games in his first two months at Fenway

and had only two homers at the end of May.

Then he got hot.

One year later, the Sox ended an 86 year old Curse and David Ortiz became Big Papi,

When the Sox finally defeated the Evil Empire in the biblical championship run of '04,

the man who ended games after midnight with game-winning blasts.

When the Sox finally defeated the Evil Empire in the biblical championship run of '04,

it was David Ortiz who seemed to deliver every game-winning hit.

It was only the beginning for Big Papi in Boston.

Ortiz would go on to win two more championships

and become the first Sox player to win three World Series since Babe Ruth.

His home plate rituals are etched in our minds.

Spitting into his batting gloves then slapping his hands together,

admiring every prodigious home run, and pointing to the skies as he crosses home plate.

No Red Sox player has been better to the fans or delivered more on his promises.

Ortiz' passionate remarks after the Marathon bombing helped galvanize our city and launch its recovery.

He's the greatest 40-year-old slugger in Major League history,

the greatest clutch hitter any of us have ever seen.

Sox fans hope he changes his mind, but he says this is the end.

No matter what, time will never dim the memory of his moments in Boston.