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10 spectacular photos from David Ortiz's final season

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The legendary career of slugger David Ortiz came to an end on Monday when the Boston Red Sox were eliminated from the postseason at the hands of Terry Francona and the Cleveland Indians.

And while the end to Big Papi's 20-year storybook journey in Major League Baseball didn't end with a fourth World Series title for the 40-year-old Dominican, he had a number of great moments during his final campaign.

Here are 10 of the best photos from Ortiz's last hoorah.

Final spring training

Ortiz appeared in the final spring training of his career at the beginning of the year, and while he received a warm welcome from the fans in attendance at JetBlue Park in Lee County, Fla., Big Papi was doing some greeting of his own, welcoming the arriving David Price to his new home.

Opening day dinger

Against the very team that would end his career, Ortiz homered against the Cleveland Indians in the ninth inning of his final Opening Day. With a bright red hood, reminiscent of Super-Man, hanging out of the top of his road uniform, Ortiz belted a two-run home run - the first of 38 on the year - off right-hander Trevor Bauer.

Papi gets teary after daughter's anthem

In what would be the last home opener of his storied career, Ortiz was blessed with a wonderful ovation from the Fenway Park crowd, had the honor of throwing simultaneous first pitches with Boston sports legends, and got to hang with old teammates Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Tim Wakefield. But, it was his daughter Alex that struck the biggest chord with the slugger, as his water works poured while she belted the national anthem.

Ortiz vs. Fernandez at All-Star Game

In his final All-Star Game, Ortiz's last at-bat was against Jose Fernandez. At the time, no one knew that would also be Fernandez's final All-Star game, as the young right-hander was killed months later in a boating accident. Before the game, Fernandez said he would groove fastballs to Ortiz if he faced him. But the first of seven pitches in the at-bat were changeups, and as Ortiz drew the walk, he and Fernandez had a fun moment before Ortiz was pulled to a standing ovation.

Ortiz homers for boy with heart condition

No one in the Red Sox clubhouse will forget Maverick Schutte. The six-year-old is a huge David Ortiz fan, and he also suffers from a severe heart condition. On the day Ortiz visited him, he promised him that he would hit a home run for the youngster. Sure enough, Big Papi didn't waste any time, cranking a go-ahead homer versus the Yankees later that night.

Ortiz and the Boston legends

Boston's home opener was unlike any other. Not only was it Ortiz's final one, but he was surrounded by some of the greatest athletes ever to don a Boston uniform. Ortiz, Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, and Ty Law all threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park in what would go down as a memorable moment.

Walking off with the base

May 14 will go down as one of the most historic days of Ortiz's career. Beyond taking sole possession of 22nd on the all-time home run list with No. 513, the slugger had a huge day. Ortiz ended up finishing a single shy of the cycle, and capped off the game with a walk-off double. After a huge celebration at second base, Ortiz grabbed the base and walked off the field with it.

Ortiz takes on-deck selfie

If there's one thing that'll be blatantly missing from Boston games, it's going to be Ortiz's fan interactions. In the middle of a game, Ortiz took some time out of his pre- at bat routine to snap a selfie with a fan in the first row. Of course, in Ortiz fashion, he stepped up to the plate and hammered a two-run home run.

Final Yankee Stadium Game

Ortiz's only request from fans in New York was a standing ovation in his final visit to Yankee Stadium. On Sept. 29, Ortiz got his wish. After the Yankees swept the Red Sox in a three-game series, Ortiz emerged from the dugout, and the Yankees faithful, for the only time in his career, bid him farewell for the last time.

Ortiz's final goodbye

It was the day everyone knew was coming, but didn't want to acknowledge. It wasn't the way everyone expected Ortiz to go out, as the legendary slugger was part of a Red Sox team that was swept by the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. But if there's a saving grace to his final appearance, it's that it happened at home in front of his home crowd.

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