Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling all fell short of the 75% threshold needed in their final year of eligibility.
Also known as “Big Papi,” Ortiz, 46, played for the Red Sox from 2003 to 2016. He was the only player on a ballot of 30 retired players to gain entry into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, with 77.9% of the votes revealed Tuesday, and he did so on his very first ballot.
CURT SCHILLING IS HALL OF FAME-WORTHY, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM
The Red Sox won three World Series while Ortiz was on the team. He is widely credited with helping the Red Sox overcome their 86-year championship drought, which the team did in 2003. He also previously played for the Minnesota Twins from 1997 to 2002. He was a dominant hitter and currently holds the Red Sox’s record for most home runs in a single season, 54, which he achieved in 2006.
Cooperstown is calling! pic.twitter.com/de1K5bHxlZ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 25, 2022
“I feel so thankful and grateful for being able to accomplish what I was able to accomplish and thank God having a career that I had,” Ortiz said during a media event with the MLB following the announcement. “I was lucky enough to have the right teammates. I was lucky enough to have the right coaches. I was lucky enough to play for the right organization who had my back all of the time.”
In 2009, the New York Times reported that Ortiz was on a 2003 list of about 100 MLB players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Other high-profile players on that list included Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Sammy Sosa.
Ortiz strongly denied those allegations. In a 2017 interview, he suggested that someone leaked his name because there were too many New York Yankees players testing positive for drug use. He said no official went after him and accused him of drug use.
Big love for Big Papi.
David Ortiz is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. pic.twitter.com/wEtLLHalXv
— MLB (@MLB) January 25, 2022
No player crossed the 75% vote threshold to get into the Hall of Fame last year. Ortiz was one of several players sports analysts expected might get voted in. This was the last year Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling will be considered for the Hall of Fame due to a 10-year limit on players being on the ballot.
Bonds, 57, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2007. Some sports analysts have argued that he is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He owns numerous records such as most career home runs, 762, most home runs in a season, 73, which he set in 2001. However, he has been the subject of controversy over performance-enhancing drug use. Bonds admitted to using steroids in court, but his lawyers argued that he was not aware of what he was doing, instead believing he was taking flaxseed oil and arthritis cream, the Washington Post reported.
Clemens, 59, was a dominant pitcher who jumped from team to team during his career, which spanned from 1984 to 2007. He played for multiple teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees. He earned over 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts during his career. His career strikeout record is the third-highest in MLB history. He was also subject to allegations that he used steroids. In 2008, he appeared before a congressional committee and denied using steroids but was subsequently indicted in 2010 for perjury. Prosecutors alleged he lied to Congress, but he was cleared of all charges two years later.
Clemens said he and his family put the Hall of Fame in the “rear view mirror ten years ago” and thanked those who voted for him.
Thank y’all for the great responses! Much appreciated. Not sure if I did the thread right ?♂️ so here’s a screenshot pic.twitter.com/oSGIniv1Bm
— Roger Clemens (@rogerclemens) January 25, 2022
Schilling, 55, was a pitcher who played for multiple teams from 1988 to 2008. He played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Philadelphia Phillies. He is currently tied for the third-most 300-strikeout seasons in MLB history. Schilling is an outspoken conservative, which has sparked controversy among some fans.
In a tweet, Schilling offered his congratulations to Ortiz.
Every year the conversation revolves around who didn’t get in. Like all star voting, who got cheated. I say it every year and especially this year, focus on who did get in. @davidortiz deserved a 1st ballot induction! Congratulations my friend you earned it! #bigpapiHoF
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) January 25, 2022
“Every year the conversation revolves around who didn’t get in. Like all star voting, who got cheated. I say it every year and especially this year, focus on who did get in. [Ortiz] deserved a 1st ballot induction! Congratulations my friend you earned it!” he tweeted.
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The 2022 ballot included 17 holdovers from the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot. Members of the BBWAA consider a number of factors when voting, including the player’s record, integrity, character, and contributions to their team.
The induction ceremony for Ortiz is set to take place July 24 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.
