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Ortiz: 'Rivalry with the Yankees made me who I am'

Adam Hunger / USA TODAY Sports

David Ortiz is set to say goodbye to the biggest rival of his 20-year career.

The Boston Red Sox and their designated hitter kick off a three-game set with the New York Yankees on Tuesday, marking Ortiz's final series in the Bronx.

"Our rivalry with the Yankees made me who I am," Ortiz wrote on The Players' Tribune. "The intensity of that competition is what I'm gonna miss the most when I'm done. I could wake up in the morning and my body could be feeling like shit, but as soon as the bus pulls up to Yankee Stadium and I see that white fence on the upper deck, I'm like, 'It's on.'

"Me, Manny (Ramirez) and Pedro (Martinez) used to sit in the dugout watching the Yankees' pitchers warming up, and we'd say to each other, 'Alright, how we gonna take these mother------- down today?'"

While the Yankees plan to honor Ortiz with a gift Thursday, some fans have pitched a tribute of their own: To moon Big Papi during the series finale.

Ortiz has a message for those fans who wish to partake.

"Let me tell you something," Ortiz said. "If 50,000 people moon me, I promise you two things. First, I'm gonna laugh so hard I might start crying. Then when the tears dry, I'm gonna step up to the plate and try to hit the ball all the way to the choo choo train. You gotta be careful. You guys don't have Mariano no more, you know what I'm saying?"

This series with the Yankees has some added significance for Ortiz. Not only is it his last against his long-time rival, but the Red Sox also have a shot at clinching the division with either a win, or a Toronto Blue Jays loss, at any time over the next three days.

Despite all the boos and jeers, Ortiz said he's enjoyed the more than 100 games he's played at both the old and new Yankee Stadium and cherishes the competition as he plays out his final days in the majors.

"Yankee fans, I got one final thing to tell you. Thank you. For real. You pulled the best out of me," Ortiz said. "When you boo me, it's one of the best feelings in the world."

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