Yankee-killer Ortiz makes final trip to New York

"I was born to play against the Yankees."

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz certainly has a flare for the dramatic, and it always seemed to come out against the New York Yankees.

In an article he wrote for the Players' Tribune on Tuesday, "Thanks for the memories, New York", Ortiz didn't hold back on his love of playing his team's historic rival ahead of making his final trip to Yankee Stadium for a three-game series. After 14 years with the Sox, Ortiz says he will retire following this season.

And as one of the best hitters against the Yankees, Big Papi has no shortage of memorable moments against the Pinstripes.

However, none compares to the 2004 ALCS.

With the Yankees leading the series 3-0, Ortiz made sure the Yankee denizens would remember his name.

Game 4

In the 12th inning of a 4-4 game, Boston's World-Series hopes were hanging by a thread. With a man on, Ortiz drilled a walk-off home run against Paul Quantrill for the Red Sox's first win of the ALCS. Although it didn't seem like much at the time with the Yankees leading the series 3-1, it turned out to be a crucial turning point in Boston's near-impossible run to the World Series.

Game 5

With the Red Sox trailing 2-0 in the eighth inning, Ortiz struck again, starting the rally with a solo home run. Boston tied the game later in the inning and eventually forced extras. In a 4-4 tie in the 14th with Johnny Damon on second base, Big Papi muscled a single to centre after a 10-pitch at-bat, enough to bring Damon home and send the series back to the Bronx.

Game 7

After Boston tied the series in Game 6, it was an all-or-nothing game Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. Ortiz set the tone early for the Red Sox, hammering a two-run shot with two outs in the top of the first. Boston never looked back, pummeling the Yankees 10-3 to cap the historic comeback and advance to the World Series.

With three home runs, 11 RBI and a .387 average, Ortiz was an obvious ALCS MVP.

The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series title since 1918, erasing the "Curse of the Babe" and teeing up the Sox to win the Series again in 2007 and 2013. Sure, the Yankees have won 27, but Ortiz helped the hard-luck Sox establish a little swagger against their Big Apple rivals.

His 31 homers at the old and new ballpark in the Bronx are tied with Mickey Vernon for second-most among visiting players, one ahead of Ted Williams and one behind Goose Goslin.

The 40-year-old Ortiz began Tuesday with a .321 batting average, a major league-leading 48 doubles, 37 homers and 124 RBIs. He hopes to earn a fourth World Series ring with the Red Sox.