Within the first few pages of his autobiography, “Papi: My Story,” David Ortiz refers repeatedly to the dangers of gun violence in the Dominican Republic. “Once, my mother sent me to the bodega to pick up some groceries,” Ortiz wrote, with Michael Holley, in the 2017 book. He sustained damage to his liver, his small intestine and his large intestine, and was flown to Boston Monday night on a plane provided by the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz, of course, is revered in Boston, where the bridge over the Mass Pike near Fenway Park is named in his honor. He led the Red Sox to World Series championships in 2004, 2007 and 2013, ending an 86-year title drought and turning a franchise known for torturous near-misses into one synonymous with victory.

Source: International New York Times June 11, 2019 09:00 UTC