David Ortiz, known as Big Papi, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday in his first turn on the ballot. He was named on 77.9% of ballots.

Who is David Ortiz‘s father Leo Ortiz? 

Born Americo Enrique Ortiz, Leo professional and semi-professional baseball in the Dominican Republic.

David, however, never got to see his father play however as Leo had given up his dreams of being a ballplayer before David’s birth so that he could get a job and support his family.  

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Leo encouraged his son to pursue baseball from an early age. Speaking to Baltimore Sun in 2004, Leo talked about his son’s success.

“I know he plays relaxed, I know David’s style of baseball. If he feels relaxed, I feel relaxed. David does not fear any pitcher. I knew if someone was going to get a hit, it was going to be David,” he had said. 

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Leo’s wife Angela Rosa Arias was killed in a car accident in 2002 at the age of 47. 

Who is David Ortiz‘s wife? 

David and Tiffany Ortiz met at a bar in Wisconsin in 1996. They tied the knot in 2002. They share two children, D’Angelo and Alexandra. The couple runs the David Ortiz Children’s Fund.

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“It’s something I really never dreamed of it,” Ortiz said. “I was the type of player, I know I got the talent, but all I was looking for was the opportunity to be an everyday player.”

Ortiz dominated the sport in the 2000s and 2010s and led the Red Sox to win their first World Series in 86 years in 2004. He batted .286 with 541 home runs with Boston and Minnesota while making 88% of his plate appearances as a designated hitter, the most by anyone in the Hall.