David Ortiz Quotes

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present an unprecedented collection of baseball related quotations spoken by David Ortiz and about David Ortiz.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"They pick me [to be tested for steroids] every time. I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I'm a big guy, or what, but all I know is all they are going to find is a lot of rice and beans." - David Ortiz in The Boston Globe (Nick Cafardo, March 11, 2005)

David Ortiz Quotes

Quotes From & About David Ortiz

"All I like to do is work every day and have an idea what I want to do." Source: JockBio.com.

"Everybody has something to prove each year. Everybody has a responsibility in this game. Even the batboy." Source: CNN.com (December 28, 2000).

"I come to play everyday." Source: Widely Attibuted.

"I just love the feeling from the fans and when I'm walking on deck I can hear people screaming and wishing you the best. That puts you into the game more than anything." Source: AP Wire (October 10, 2003).

"I just swing hard in case I hit it -- that's it." Source: MLB.com (Jennifer Langosch, 08/02/2006)

"I'm an easy person to get along with. Even when I struggle, I have the same attitude." Source: TV.com.

"I'm not thinking home run, I just want to put a good swing on the ball. When you go looking for home runs, you get off of your swing. So you don't think of homers when you go up to the plate." Source: TV.com.

I'm just trying to work hard every day, trying to be a better player and one day, to be right there with them, one of those special hitters." Source: AP Wire (September 11, 2006).

"I showed people that it's not about guessing what people can do. It's about saying, 'Here, show me what you can do.'"

"I swing hard all the time. That's what I've done my whole life - hit." BiggestStars.com.

"It doesn't matter if we were down 3-0. You've just got to keep the faith. The game is not over until the last out." Source: AP Wire (May 10, 1999).

"I tell you, I don't know too much about steroids, but I started listening about steroids when they started to bring that shit up, and I started realizing and getting to know a little bit about it. you've got to be careful. I used to buy a protein shake in my country. I don't do that any more because they don't have the approval for that here, so I know that, so I'm off of buying things at the GNC back in the Dominican (Republic). But it can happen anytime, it can happen. I don't know. I don't know if I drank something in my youth, not knowing it." Source: BostonHerald.com (Michael Silverman, 05/08/2007)

"Through the years I've been getting better and better and better, and it's what you learn though the seasons."

"What happened to me should teach everybody that you should never give up on anybody."

"You just have to go as far as you can go. Everyone works his way up." Source: Widely Attibuted.

"David Ortiz is the type of guy you can't help but like." - Twins General Manager Terry Ryan

"Everyone knew he could hit, and boy, he's hitting now." - Former Yankee General Manager Gene Michael

"He's a tremendous person, but his bat, that's what helps us win more games." - Red Sox Manager Terry Francona

"He's always relaxed and at ease." - Red Sox Teammate Kevin Millar

"He's bulletproof, as far as I'm concerned. Whether there's a lefthander on the mound or a righthander on the mound, he beats us up pretty good." - New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre

"He's fun to kid around with." - Former Teammate Corey Koskie

"He's got a great personality and gets along with everyone. He's a great teammate to have." - Former Teammate Brian Buchanan

"He's got a knack, he sure does. We feel very confident and we feel very good when he's at the plate in those situations. He keeps coming through. We almost expect it out of him now, so he better not pop up -- ever." - Boston Red Sox Third Baseman Mike Lowell on MLB.com (Jennifer Langosch, 08/02/2006)

"He thinks he's going to be on the cover of GQ, but he doesn't quite understand what style is all about." - Former Teammate Doug Mientkiewicz

"If he continues to perform the way he's going right now, you can put him right up there with anybody." - Red Sox Ace Pedro Martinez

"I knew he was capable of a lot. But contending for the MVP every year? That's amazing." - Red Sox Teammate Johnny Damon

"In this league, he does exactly what you're supposed to do—hit." - Toronto Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi

"I think of him like he's my brother. When he's not going good, I worry about him. When he's going good, I worry about him more." - Former Teammate Corey Koskie

"I've always been a David Ortiz guy." - Twins General Manager Terry Ryan

"Once he established himself as an everyday guy, he began to hit. It's not easy to sit in April." - Red Sox Teammate Kevin Millar

"The thing that makes him tough is he's got quick hands, he's on the plate, and he doesn't mind going the other way." - Red Sox Closer Keith Foulke

"You can't say enough about him. Obviously, David, he's a freak. He's like a superhero. He's like that in real life, too, and I think that's why everything about him is so endearing, because he is a genuine person and people here love him, and there's a reason why." Boston Righthander Josh Beckett on MLB.com (Jennifer Langosch, 08/02/2006)

"We always thought he was going to be a great hitter." - Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire

"We've seen it so often. The whole inning we're sitting there thinking, 'Let's just get David to the plate.' He just has the ability to take such good swings in those situations. He doesn't do anything different. I think he's smart enough to know the pressure is on the other team, even though we're down." - Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona on MLB.com (Jennifer Langosch, 08/02/2006)

"When David's thinking right, he's a good hitter." - Former Minnesota Twin All-Star Tony Oliva

Quotes From & About David Ortiz
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baseball almanac fast facts

Most fans knows that David Ortiz has a common nickname: Big Papi, which is translated as Señor Papi (Mr. Papi) in Spanish; however, did you know his more commonly used Spanish nickname is Señor Octubre - Mr. October, reflecting his postseason skill like that done by Reggie Jackson?

David Ortiz hit .400 and had five home runs in fourteen playoff games in 2004. The following season Big Papi hit .352 with runners in scoring position and twenty home runs that either tied the game or put the Red Sox ahead prompting team owner John Henry to present Ortiz with a plaque that had the following inscription:

DAVID ORTIZ
#34
THE GREATEST CLUTCH HITTER IN THE
HISTORY OF THE BOSTON RED SOX

On August 6, 2006, David Ortiz hit his fortieth home run of the 2006 season and became the first Boston Red Sox player in history to hit at least forty home runs in three straight seasons.