logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2022
42m 41s

David Ortiz: How to Swing for the Fences

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

A new baseball season is finally getting underway—bringing with it our enduring optimism. Baseball has helped see us through wars, depressions, and pandemics.  It’s seen Jackie Robinson break down the color barrier 75 years ago this April, and players like Juan Marichal and Roberto Clemente open the doors of possibility to generations of young people across Latin America.  It is more than a game; it’s a part of who we are.

There’s no better person to help celebrate the upcoming season than David Ortiz, a once in a generation star who embodies the best of baseball both on and off the field.  David is a 10-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, seven-time Silver Slugger, soon-to-be baseball Hall of Famer, and a hero to fans young and old, from New England to the Dominican Republic where he grew up.

In this episode, David shares stories about how his parents’ love and guidance helped give him the dedication and discipline to succeed; some of the most memorable moments of his career, including breaking “The Curse of the Bambino” in 2004 and rallying the local community and the country after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; and his commitment to giving back and making a difference in kids’ lives through the David Ortiz Children’s Fund.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
May 2022
Prime Minister Tony Blair: How to Define Our Interdependence
Leadership matters. And while it’s easy to take a cynical view of government and politics in today’s world, it’s important to remember that public service can and should still be an honorable endeavor - and responsible leadership, working together, and putting people first are st ... Show More
47m 36s
May 2022
President Bill Clinton: Reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban Now
Last week was another week marked by multiple mass shootings in America, including attacks in Houston, Southern California, and a particularly heinous, racially-motivated massacre in Buffalo, N.Y. in which 10 people were killed in a supermarket—the deadliest mass shooting in the ... Show More
8 m
May 2022
Dr. Jill Biden and Hillary Clinton: How Community Colleges Can Build A Modern Workforce
Graduation season is here, and soon a new generation of leaders will take their energy, their ideas, and their desire to take action out into the world to help solve the challenges we all face. The more opportunities we provide for more people to pursue higher education, the bett ... Show More
26 m
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz and Collegiate Player D’Angelo Ortiz
MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz will always be known as “Big Papi” to Boston Red Sox fans, but the now-retired slugger is content to simply be “dad” these days. Ortiz’s son D’Angelo Ortiz is currently chasing his own dreams of baseball stardom, playing for Miami-Dade College. “Hear ... Show More
36m 6s
Aug 2021
A-Rod Opens Up About His Career, Almost Teaming Up with David Ortiz in Boston, and Life After Baseball
Alex Rodriguez sits down with David Ortiz and Jared Carrabis for the second episode of Call Him Papi. A-rod and Ortiz talk about their relationship on the field, and how close they were off the field. We get some insight into the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, that '04 postseason, and ... Show More
57m 28s
Jun 2023
DAVID R. MELLOR: "One Base At A Time"
America loves baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and a good 'come back' story. I'm so happy to be providing one of those today! David R. Mellor is the Senior Director of Grounds for the Boston Red Sox baseball team at Fenway Park where he oversees everything that involves the playing f ... Show More
29m 59s
Apr 2021
More Than a Home Run
April 8, 1974. On a humid night in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is poised to make history. On the all-time home run leaderboard, Aaron is tied with the legendary Babe Ruth. With one swing of the bat, he can break Ruth’s record. But not everyone in America wants to see this happen; the thr ... Show More
26m 55s
Sep 2023
James Outman On Why Baseball Is Stoicism
Ryan speaks with James Outman on why he believes that baseball and Stoicism both promote the same practices, why baseball players are uniquely prepared to deal with failure, how practicing the Stoic mindset helps him survive “the yips”, why Lou Gehrig’s story is the perfect examp ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2021
Episode 444: Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine joins the show to give us some anecdotes about his baseball career during this lockout-induced downtime for MLB. He gives his opinions on the most passionate fan bases in baseball, who should make the hall of fame, stories about relationships with players and owne ... Show More
2h 14m
Apr 2022
Jackie Robinson Tries Out for the Majors
April 16, 1945. Jackie Robinson is ready. He’s won a tryout with the Boston Red Sox, and if he makes the team, he will become the first player to break baseball’s long-standing racial divide. Robinson puts his supreme athletic skills on full display… but never hears back from the ... Show More
31m 27s
Feb 2022
Episode 454: Blaze Jordan
BLAZE JORDAN joins the pod and boy is this guy addicted to hitting home runs! The 19 year-old phenom has been in the spotlight since he was 11 years old when a video of him hitting a 395-foot home run went viral, but he wasn't done there. He went re-viral two years later when he ... Show More
2h 39m
Oct 2023
The man born with no arms and an inspirational 15 year journey to pitch at every MLB stadium
Tom Willis was born without arms and recently completed a 15-year journey to throw out a ceremonial pitch at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums across the USA. He discusses how he pitches a baseball, the inspiration for his Pitch for National Awareness tour and how changing pe ... Show More
29m 34s