Papi | David Ortiz

Papi: My Story | David Ortiz & Michael Holley

How did an overlooked slugger become the clutch heart and soul of a championship franchise? David Ortiz delivers in Papi: My Story.

About the Book:

An entertaining, unfiltered memoir by one of the game's greatest, most clutch sluggers and beloved personalities David "Big Papi" Ortiz is a baseball icon and one of the most popular figures ever to play the game.

As a key part of the Boston Red Sox for 15 years, David has helped the team win 3 World Series, bringing back a storied franchise from "never wins" to "always wins."

He helped them upend the doubts, the naysayers, the nonbelievers and captured the imagination of millions of fans along the way, as he launched balls into the stands again, and again, and again.

He made Boston and the Red Sox his home, his place of work, and his legacy. As he put it: This is our f*&#ing city.

Now, looking back at the end of his legendary career, Ortiz opens up fully for the first time about his last two decades in the game. Unhindered by political correctness, Ortiz talks colorfully about his journey, from his poor upbringing in the Dominican Republic to when the expansion Florida Marlins passed up a chance to sign him due to what was essentially tennis elbow.

He recalls his days in Peoria, Arizona, his first time in the United States; tense exchanges with Twins manager Tom Kelly in Minnesota; and his arrival in Boston.

Readers go behind the scenes for the many milestones of his Red Sox career? from the huge disappointment of the Red Sox losing to the Yankees in 2003, ending the curse in 2004 with the infamous "band of idiots," including his extraordinary clutch hitting to overcome a 3-0 series deficit against the Yankees, to earning a second title in 2007 and a third in 2013.

Along the way, he was tainted by the infamous banned substances list in 2009; he used his passion and place to fortify a city devastated by the Boston Marathon bombings; and he dominated pitchers right up through his retirement season at age 40.

Papi, as he became so affectionately called, gave his fans big hits when they needed them most.

He was an even bigger presence: He was a champion who rallied a team, a city, and a sport in a way that no one will ever forget.

In Papi, his ultimate memoir, Ortiz opens up as never before about his life in baseball and about the problems he sees in Major League Baseball, about former teammates, opponents, coaches, and executives, and about the weight of expectation whenever he stepped up to the plate.

The result is a revelatory, fly-on-the wall story of a career by a player with a lot to say at the end of his time in the game, a game to which he gave so much and which gave so much to him.

Frequently Asked Questions About Papi:

• Q: Does this memoir only focus on his historic seasons with the Boston Red Sox?
  A: No. While his legendary time in Boston forms the emotional core of the text, the book traces his entire life journey. It begins with his childhood growing up in a tough neighborhood in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, moves through his overlooked early career struggles with the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins, and finishes with his ultimate ascent to baseball royalty.
• Q: Who is the co-author, and what tone does the narrative carry?
  A: David Ortiz teamed up with Michael Holley, a multi-time New York Times bestselling author, veteran Boston sports journalist, and television host. Holley successfully preserves Ortiz's larger-than-life, unfiltered, and deeply charismatic conversational voice, making the book feel like a direct, personal chat with "Big Papi" himself.
• Q: Does David Ortiz address the serious controversies and low points of his career?
  A: Yes. Ortiz faces major controversies head-on with absolute transparency. He uses specific chapters to detail his side of the unverified 2003 performance-enhancing substances allegations, his intense public feuds with prominent sports reporters, and his personal fury regarding how MLB leaks damaged player reputations.
• Q: What major baseball milestone moments are chronicled behind the scenes?
  A: The book delivers an inside look at historic baseball turning points. Readers get a first-hand perspective on the legendary 2004 ALCS comeback against the New York Yankees that broke the "Curse of the Bambino," the emotionally charged 2013 World Series run following the Boston Marathon bombing, and his emotional final farewell tour in 2016.
• Q: Are there candid opinions shared about his teammates and rival managers?
  A: Yes. Ortiz pulls no punches when discussing the figures who shaped his career. The book features incredibly honest, illuminating assessments of key baseball personalities, including his deep respect for manager Terry Francona, his complex bond with Manny Ramirez, and his competitive interactions with rivals like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

About the Author(s):

David Ortiz: Dominican-American Baseball Player

David Ortiz, nicknamed “Big Papi,” is a ten-time major league All-Star, three-time World Series champion, and the all-time MLB record holder for home runs, RBIs, and hits by a designated hitter. In 2015, Ortiz was voted as one of the four greatest players in Boston Red Sox history—along with Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Pedro Martinez—by Red Sox fans. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael Holley: American Sports Commentator

Michael Holley is the New York Times best-selling author of Patriot Reign, War Room, and Red Sox Rule. A former reporter and columnist for the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune, Holley has also appeared on ESPN's popular show Around the Horn and on Fox Sports Net's I, MAX.

He is currently a host of WEEI’s popular radio show Dale & Holley.

Bibliographic Data:

• Full Title: Papi: My Story
• Author(s): David Ortiz & Michael Holley
• Publisher & Imprint: Mariner Books (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; originally published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Publication Date: May 1, 2018 (Original hardcover published May 2017)
• Book Binding: Trade Paperback
• Condition: Pre-Owned / Very Good
• Edition: Reprint / Trade Paperback Edition
• Print Length: 272 Pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781328915849
• ISBN-10: 1328915843
• Library of Congress (LCCN): 2017006859
• Primary Genre (BISAC): BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Sports
• Sub-Genres (BISAC): SPORTS & RECREATION / Baseball / History; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Hispanic & Latino
• Dimensions: 5.31 x 0.61 x 8.0 inches
• Weight: 8.5 oz

Secure Your Copy:

Clutch postseason hits, larger-than-life charisma, and legendary Boston Red Sox glory. David Ortiz shares his incredible journey in Papi: My Story.

Explore the inspiring true story of baseball royalty, clutch playoff magic, and Red Sox glory. Grab your copy and discover David Ortiz's memoir Papi today!