What Will The History Books Say About David Ortiz?

More than 19 years after his Major League Baseball debut, David Ortiz played his last pro ball game Monday night. The Red Sox fell to the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, ending their season and their World Series hopes.

Ortiz, or Big Papi, is the all-time leader in MLB history for home runs, runs batted in, and hits by a designated hitter. He is also in the rarefied air of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson as the only players to have hit at least 500 runs and won three or more World Series titles.

In an emotional goodbye Monday night, Ortiz stood at the mound, took off his cap, and waved it at the audience. He was swarmed by reporters as Fenway rang with the theme of "Fanfare For The Common Man" by Copland.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Ortiz said, "I'm gonna miss the cheering, the competition, but I don't think I'm gonna miss playing baseball because I have played baseball for so long, so much. In my mind, since I can remember, it's just been nothing but baseball in there."

Our commentators remember some of Ortiz's greatest hits.

Bill Littlefield, host of NPR's Only A Game, which tweets @OnlyAGameNPR.

Gordon Edes, team historian for the Boston Red Sox, strategic communications adviser at Fenway Sports Group. He tweets @GordonEdes.