2. The 2004 ALCS
2003 was David Ortiz first year with the Boston Red Sox. In the playoffs they suffered a devastating ALCS loss to the New York Yankees. The defeat created the catch phrase “Aaron ‘Frickin’ Boone”, whose home run was a Bucky Dent like moment and dagger to the team’s heart, continuing the World Series drought for the Red Sox. Yet, in 2004 retribution would be had. The teams again met up in the ALCS and the Yankees lost a three-game lead. Many will look to Curt Schilling, but offensively it was David Ortiz who devastated Yankee’s pitching. During the series he batted .387, with three home runs and eleven RBI’s, with his walk-off hits getting Boston games four and five and earning Ortiz the series MVP. Sure, folks will always remember the bloody sock, but make no mistake. The Boston Red Sox do not win that series without David Ortiz.