Ortiz reflects on speech given after Boston Marathon bombing

Updated Apr. 16, 2023 5:00 p.m. ET

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BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz knows that what he said at the first game at Fenway Park after the Boston Marathon bombing had an impact — in Boston and around the world.

Ortiz and many of his 2013 World Series champion teammates were honored Sunday in Boston before the Red Sox played the Los Angeles Angels. He'll also be the grand marshal for this year’s marathon, which will be run Monday morning.

Ten years ago, two bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring nearly 300. Five days later, the Red Sox played a home game, at Fenway, where Ortiz stood in front of the pitcher’s mound and said: “This is our (expletive) city. And nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”

The Red Sox took off after that moment and went on to win the World Series.

“You know what, 10 years later I can tell you about the impact of what I say (had),” Ortiz said Sunday. “To be honest with you, I’m so proud it was taken that way. You don’t know, sometimes somebody needs to push that button. I think I did.

“Right now, I can tell you, the feedback coming from the people worldwide from everywhere I go. I did something good and I’m pretty proud of it.”

The newly enshrined hall of famer understands what it meant to many.

“We ended up winning, right. It was a real movie,” he said. “It was a real-life story and we were all part of it."

Ortiz was the MVP of the Series, helping the Red Sox clinch their first title at home in 95 years.

___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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