It was the top of the sixth, Game 4 of the Red Sox versus the St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston was down by one. Top hitter David Ortiz stepped in front of his teammates in the dugout — and, he later recounted, thought of his political hero, former President Bill Clinton.
He began speaking, calling on his teammates to dig deep, rally and go on for the win.
“It was like 24 kindergartners looking up at their teacher,” Jonny Gomes said, as ESPN reported. “That message was pretty powerful.”
Obviously. Gomes, who wasn’t even on the regular lineup, emerged from the dugout to drive in a three-run homer, securing Boston’s win, 4-2. Meanwhile, “Papi” said he learned his speaking skills from what he characterized as the best.
“Bill Clinton, he makes a lot of money making speeches,” Ortiz said, as Politico reported. “And he changes a lot of lives with his speeches. I watch him. I learn. If you can get people to listen, they will react.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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