Big Papi Is Nominated For Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

David Ortiz is the most popular player on the Red Sox and with 2 World Series titles under his belt fans around the league are taking notice. David Ortiz is quickly becoming the face of baseball. Fans turned away from Barry Bonds due to steroid allegations and from A-Rod for his greed but Big Papi has everything the fans love about the game. Here is what Sports Illustrated has said about him: "No player in all of baseball is more universally respected and genuinely liked by his peers than Ortiz, a self-made hitter and born leader who is hitting coach, counselor, philosopher and confidant in two languages." Big Papi represents everything that is great about baseball and is deserving of this award, especially since he played most of the season with and injured knee.