Making History

Papi makes history Slugger is first Sox player to hit 40 homers three straight years.

The Red Sox have had some of the most prestigious sluggers in the history of the game. From Ted Williams to Jimmie Foxx to Carl Yastrzemski to Jim Rice to Manny Ramirez, it seems like Boston has always had a basher who could put one out of the yard at any time.
However, only one man has struck 40 or more homers in three consecutive seasons for the Red Sox. And that didn't happen until Sunday, when David Ortiz clubbed No. 40, a screaming line drive to right field to snap a 2-2 tie in what wound up a 7-6 loss to the Devil Rays.
"I had no idea," said Ortiz. "I think I'm going to have start following history, what do you think?"
Timely as ever, Ortiz put his name into the history books the same day that he was featured on ESPN's Sunday Conversation.
In truth, he has been a daily conversation piece in Boston for years. The Big Papi legend just keeps growing.
"He's unbelievable," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "I'm happy for him. He deserves it."
With 52 games left, Ortiz just needs 10 more homers to become the only player in Sox history besides Foxx to hit 50 long balls in a season.
"It's good to be right next to those guys," Ortiz said. "It's great. But you know how it is, it's all about playing the game and try to do it better every day. That's the way I see it. There's a lot of frustration you go through, but when you get it, nobody can take that away from you. That's about it."