Freddy Rodríguez’s “I’m Big Papi"

Freddy Rodríguez’s “I’m Big Papi,” 2008

David “Big Papi” Ortiz spent most of his 20-year career with the Boston Red Sox. He quickly became the “heart” of the team, helping them win the 2004 World Series after an 86-year drought.

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution © 2008 Freddy Rodríguez

Alternate Title
David Ortiz
Artist
Freddy Rodríguez, born 1945
Sitter
David Ortiz, born 1975
Date
2008
Type
Painting
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 132.4 × 81.3 × 3.8 cm (52 1/8 × 32 × 1 1/2")
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© 2008 Freddy Rodríguez
Object number
NPG.2017.76
Exhibition Label
Born Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
As the charismatic David Ortiz approached retirement in the fall of 2016, he remained one of the most intimidating hitters in Major League Baseball. Ortiz, who began his twenty-year career playing for the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins, signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2003 and quickly became the “heart” of the team, helping them win the 2004 World Series after an eighty-six-year drought. The Red Sox went on to win two more championships with “Big Papi” at the plate. His last season proved to be one of his most successful; he compiled a high hitting average of .315, with 48 doubles, 38 homers, and 127 RBIs (runs batted in), and he became the third major league player to achieve 500 home runs and 600 doubles. This silhouette portrait by Freddy Rodríguez is part of a series honoring Dominican players who have made history in Major League Baseball.
Nacido en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
En el otoño de 2016, ya próximo a retirarse, el carismático David Ortiz era todavía uno de los bateadores más intimidantes del béisbol de grandes ligas. Ortiz comenzó su carrera de 20 años con los Seattle Mariners y los Minnesota Twins, y en 2003 firmó con los Boston Red Sox para pronto convertirse en el “corazón” del equipo y aportar a su victoria en la Serie Mundial de 2004, después de 86 años sin ganar. Los Red Sox ganaron luego otros dos campeonatos con “Big Papi” al bate. Su última temporada fue una de las más exitosas: alcanzó un promedio de bateo de .315, con 48 dobles, 38 jonrones y 127 carreras impulsadas, convirtiéndose en el tercer jugador de grandes ligas que bateó 500 jonrones y 600 dobles. Este retrato en silueta realizado por Freddy Rodríguez es parte de una serie en homenaje a los jugadores dominicanos que han hecho historia en el béisbol de grandes ligas.
Provenance
Freddy Rodríguez (born 1945); purchased NPG 2017
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York\Queens\Flushing