Fansided

MLB Playoffs: The Biggest Heroes of the Last 20 Years

By Brad Rowland

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) acknowledges the crowd after being taken out of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) acknowledges the crowd after being taken out of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits the game-winning two-run home run in the tenth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits the game-winning two-run home run in the tenth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

David Ortiz

Much like Derek Jeter before him (and honestly, many members of this list), David Ortiz isn’t known for a singular playoff series or even a playoff year, but his accomplishments are far-reaching. Ortiz ranks among the top ten players in postseason history in walks (57), RBI (60), home runs (17), doubles (21), total bases (163), hits (87) and runs scored (51), and his postseason list of accomplishments now includes a World Series MVP honor for the 2014 season.

With that 2014 award already on the table, Ortiz’s calling card is likely his performances in the 2004 and 2007 playoffs in leading Boston to their first two titles in decades. The powerful designated hitter was named the MVP of the 2004 ALCS, when the Red Sox famously overcame a 3-0 deficit to win a 7-game thriller over the Yankees, and in the entirety of the playoffs, Ortiz produced a 1.278 OPS (!) highlighted by three home runs in 19 at-bats over those final four games.

The 2007 playoff run was also quite kind to David Ortiz, as he put together a 1.204 OPS with three home runs in 14 games, and the Red Sox needed no such miracle to glide their way to another title. More than anything, Ortiz has been the heartbeat of the Red Sox organization for more than a decade at this point, and when it comes to playoff success in recent seasons, it is tough to place anyone ahead of Big Papi.

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