The Red Sox’s designated hitter and the city of Boston icon finished his historic career; although, it came with debate and asterisks, he has turned around a franchise and left a legacy in his city and the world.

David Ortiz came in clutch time and time again, especially when it mattered most-in the playoffs. In each of his three World Series victories-2004, 2007 and 2013-he hit over .350 in each of those post-seasons.

Even though he had PED (Performance Enhancing Substance) rumors in 2003 that have not gone away, he has not failed a test since.

Those rings were more than a championship to this insanely great sports city. Ortiz’s 2004 win ended the 86 year ‘Curse of the Bambino’ which left the franchise without a championship after the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees.

The 2013 run was a great story of how sports unite, distract, and heal a city. After the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, Big Papí declared that “Boston was their (explicit) city and no one could take away their freedom.”

He and his team rode that wave of extreme emotion all the way to winning the World Series. In the ALCS (American League Championship Series), he hit a home run over the center field wall and a police officer-the heroes of the bombings- displaying and celebrating the city’s comeback from tragedy.

Ortiz’s legacy in Boston goes beyond Fenway Park. He has a foundation, the David Ortiz Foundation, which gives kids life-saving surgeries.

His impact in Boston was shown in his retirement ceremony when the governor of Massachusetts and mayor of Boston came to celebrate him.

He might have had a ceremony to say goodbye to his beloved franchise, but he is far from done. October is ready for one last great Big Papí run.