WATCH: David Ortiz's Teary-Eyed Farewell

In retrospect, David Ortiz's final season was more about him than the team. It's not because he demanded the spotlight, but because the team and fans bathed him in it.

Even down to a bitter end of a disappointing playoff run, fans stood in applause. They knew they had witnessed the end of arguably the most special sports career of their lifetime. It wasn't about the season being over. It was about the Big Papi era coming to a close.

It's clear fans couldn't give enough love to Ortiz down the stretch. You get the sense that if Red Sox Nation had to choose between the monster final season from Big Papi or the American League East championship, they would have chosen the former.

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Ortiz's legendary career came to an end Monday night at Fenway Park, the same field where he became part of baseball lore and took his place among the giants of the game. His last plate appearance was a four-pitch walk. He seemed to have little interest strolling down to first without one punctuating swing.

The Red Sox posted video of an emotional Ortiz waving goodbye to the Fenway Faithful, more concerned with celebrating him one last time than mourning a season's end.

Photo by Keith Allison via Flickr