Ortiz: Pedro saved my career with Red Sox

No one might have known the name Big Papi had it not been for Pedro Martinez.

In a revealing letter penned on The Players' Tribune on Monday, now-retired Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz admitted that a rebellious ploy hatched by Martinez to play hooky during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003, helped convince the club to give Ortiz a spot in the lineup.

Martinez persuaded a young Ortiz to head to a Philadelphia restaurant with him while the game was still in progress. After being found out the following day, though, Ortiz was forced to apologize to the team, but it was all according to Martinez's plan.

I didn't understand it, but Pedro was making a point. He wanted me to be in the lineup so bad that he was willing put his ass on the line with management. He went in to Grady Little's office the day after we skipped school, and said, "Listen, that wasn't David's fault. I told him we were leaving. It was my idea."

Grady said, "Are you crazy?"

And Pedro said, "No. You want me to re-sign in Boston, and I want to play with David Ortiz when I pitch. I believe in David."

The game in question took place on June 21, when the Phillies scored three in the bottom of the 13th to win 6-5.

Martinez's statement had its intended effect, however, as Ortiz then went on to start 78 of the remaining 83 games for the Red Sox that season.