Brady Mullin
Big Papi: My Story Of Big Dreams and Big Hits
By David Ortiz
When adversity strikes you, you have to get back up and punch adversity in the face. This is the theme of the fantastic memoir, Big Papi, by David Ortiz - who is a retired Boston Red Sox icon.
This memoir is about how Big Papi had to succeed to become the player he is now from growing up in the Dominican, struggling through an injury, to finally getting a chance in the MLB. It highlights his hard work and positive attitude throughout the whole story. It goes into good detail and never has a really boring section. You really get the feel of what it is like to be an MLB player. This is the way they live: some people have been in the league or the minors since the age of 16. That’s the age that you get your driving permit in the USA. These players are extremely dedicated and have to keep their bodies in peak shape to succeed.
I loved this memoir and would recommend it to anyone. One cause being that Ortiz is a real person. He is just like you and me, except he is a millionaire who played professional baseball. He too has to deal with everyday struggles and curveballs that life throws at you. For example, he still has to shop for groceries and likes to spend time with family: “I like to bring my kids grocery shopping with me, it is a time that I get to spend with them when I’m not on the road”(Ortiz 29). One assumption we have about professional athletes is that they are stuck up and don’t care about family; for Ortiz, though, it is the opposite for him. Family comes first and always will, and baseball is just his job. He knows that people think that he is special but doesn’t let that get in his way- he has clear morals and is a good person because of it. He earns your respect and doesn’t assume that you respect him because he has money.
I also enjoyed this memoir because of Ortiz’s grit and determination. He didn’t have it easy; he had to prove himself to move up to the next level towards the major leagues. In the MLB you have to work your way up to the Majors. This includes having to go through many minor league levels and teams. Not everyone succeeds like Ortiz did. He asserts, “You have to work hard, nothing is given or guaranteed” (Ortiz 103). Ortiz had to work hard and beat not only everyone around him but also himself. This is inspiring because it wasn’t easy; he probably wanted to give up but he didn’t. He persevered and succeeded. It sends the message that you can too, whatever the task is- as long as you tackle it with a positive attitude and grit and determination. With this you can do anything and succeed.
Finally, the hardship that Ortiz had to go through was inspiring. He grew up poor in the Dominican and at only 20 years old lost his mother to a car crash:“I was devastated, my mother had gotten taken away from me…”(Ortiz 148). That must have been devastating. The whole time he talks about how much he loved his mom and how she was an angel. Losing her at such a young age must not have felt good. But like everything else in his life, he preserved and helped his family: “I had to be the man of the family” (151). He stayed strong and showed us that you have to get through the bad times to get to the good times.
I would recommend this memoir to anyone who likes biographies and sports. This memoir inspires and is the must-read of 2018. It is similar to Relentless, by Julian Edelman where a top caliber athlete shares his story and perseverance to get to the top of his podium in sports. But most importantly, everyone should read this book because it teaches us the very valuable lesson that when life throws you a curveball, you have to hit it out of the park. 10 stars out of 10.
If you want to know more about Big Papi, I suggest watching this video on youtube:
Video courtesy of the MLB on Youtube
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