"Not seeing him in the Hall of Fame right now is something that really hurts me" - When David Ortiz shared sadness about Manny Ramirez's HOF absence
David Ortiz was one of the most prolific home runs hitters of his generation. The now 48-year-old finished his MLB career with a whopping 541 home runs during his time with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. His size and presence at the plate also helped make him one of the most feared hitters in the American League, winning three World Series titles with the Red Sox.
Thanks to his home run power and elite batting skills at the plate, David Ortiz earned a number of achievements throughout his career. A 10-time All-Star and 7-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Ortiz's biggest achievement came in 2022 when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"OTD in 2003 the @Redsox signed a guy named David Ortiz. He went on to become Big Papi! A 10-time All-Star, 7-time Silver Slugger, and 3-time World Series champion. In all he smashed 541 home runs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022!" - @MLB
Although the announcement that Ortiz would be entering the Hall of Fame, the slugger reflected on one thing that bothered him about that moment. The Boston Red Sox shared his sadness regarding the fact that his former teammate would not be joining him in the Hall of Fame.
"Not seeing him in the Hall of Fame right now is something that really hurts me," Ortiz said in the wake of his own induction. "And it hurts him because he knows that he made mistakes that he shouldn't," he continued about Manny Ramirez.
It may be difficult for Manny Ramirez to reach the Hall of Fame, as the former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox star was suspended multiple times for violating the MLB's performance-enhancing drug policies.
David Ortiz's former teammate Manny Ramirez will have two more attempts to enter the Hall of Fame
Although Manny Ramirez has not been elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the 12-time All-Star will still have two more attempts before being removed from the ballot. Former players who have their names on the Hall of Fame ballot will have 10 years to earn the required 75% to gain enshrinement before being ineligible.
"Manny Ramirez and Big Papi hit home runs during the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston" - @LostBoston1
Ramirez failed to reach the required 75% during the voting phase for the 2024 Hall of Fame class. However, he will remain eligible in both 2025 and 2026.
During the voting for the 2024 class, Ramirez finished with 32.5%, meaning that the former superstar will need to gain major traction in his final two years if he is going to join David Ortiz in Cooperstown.