Boston's David Ortiz Hits 450th Home Run of Storied Career

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz hit his 450th career home run Sunday night against the archrival New York Yankees, as reported via Twitter by ESPN Stats & Info.

With No. 450, Ortiz broke a three-way tie at 449 career home runs with Jeff Bagwell and Vladimir Guerrero, thus moving into sole possession of 37th place on the all-time homers list.

On an 0-1 pitch from New York's Chase Whitley in the third inning, Ortiz sent one high into the night toward the right-center field bleachers. His three-run shot put the Red Sox up 4-0 in a game they'd eventually win by a score of 8-5.

Ortiz is in his 12th season as a member of the Red Sox after spending his first six years (1997-2002) with the Minnesota Twins. Big Papi has made each of his nine All-Star Game appearances in a Boston uniform and was last year's World Series MVP when the Red Sox knocked off the St. Louis Cardinals for a third championship in 10 years.

Ortiz, who has primarily served as a designated hitter since moving to Boston, has hit 392 of his 450 home runs for the Red Sox. He is third on the franchise home run list, trailing only Carl Yastrzemski (452) and the great Ted Williams (521), per Baseball-Reference.com.

Yastrzemski, who spent his entire 23-year career in Boston (1961-1983), is tied with current Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn for 35th on the all-time home runs list. Yaz and Dunn are Ortiz's next targets, sitting just two home runs ahead of the powerful Dominican.