“Big Daddy” is on his way to Cooperstown.
Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Home run king Barry Bonds and all-time great pitcher Roger Clemens were denied entry in their final year of eligibility.
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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 25: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox smiles after scoring a run against the Colorado Rockies in the 2nd inning at Fenway Park on June 25, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Ortiz, who was named on 77.9% of the ballots Tuesday night, played 20 seasons in the majors, was a 10-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion. Ortiz batted .286 with 541 home runs during his time with the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.
Ortiz had 23 game-ending hits in his career, three of which came in the 2004 postseason when the Red Sox ended their 86-year World Series losing streak.
He is the fourth batsman-elect to be elected to the Hall of Fame – Edgar Martinez, Frank Thomas and Harold Baines are the other Hall of Fame inductees. Ortiz is also the fourth Dominican-born player to make it into the Hall of Fame, along with Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez and Vladimir Guerrero.
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SEATTLE, WA – JULY 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox watches his two-shot homer in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on July 10, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
Ortiz will be anchored on July 24th in Cooperstown, New York alongside Buck O’Neil, Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat and Bud Fowler, who were selected by the era committee.
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Bonds, Clemens and Curt Schilling were all rejected on the ballot in their 10th and final year. Bonds is Major League Baseball’s home run leader, and Clemens has won a record seven Cy Young Awards during his career. Bonds received 66% of the votes and Clemens 65.2%. Schilling, who asked the Hall of Fame to remove him from this year’s ballot, was named on 58.6% of the ballots.
BOSTON – OCTOBER 8: Boston Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz #34 celebrates with a teammate during the American League Division Series with the Anaheim Angels, Game 3 on October 8, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Photo von Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Bonds, Clemens and Schilling are done in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America election, but they will be considered again by the Today’s Game Era Committee next year. The 16-member committee of Hall members, executives and veteran media members will meet next December to review players who played between 1988 and 2016 and are no longer eligible for BBWAA selection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
