Ortiz gets the last laugh.(The World Series)(David Ortiz)

Nobody wanted David Ortiz. Anyone could have had him. Twins general manager Terry Ryan called around after the 2002 season, looking for a trade partner. First, he asked for a player for Ortiz, who stood to make about $2 million in salary arbitration. Then, Ryan lowered his price, saying he would require a player only if Ortiz signed with his new team. Finally, Ryan non-tendered Ortiz, as unwilling as everyone else to pay his arbitration number.

Fault the Twins if you'd like; two years later, their No. 1 need remains a cleanup hitter such as Ortiz. But not even the Red Sox expected Ortiz to turn into Senor Octubre, a top five MVP candidate, everything Mo Vaughn should have been in Boston and more. After signing Ortiz as a free agent in 2003, the Sox alternated him with another lefthanded hitter, Jeremy Giambi, for heaven's sake.

Now this.

Ortiz, who turns 29 on November 18, has lifted the Sox with one clutch hit after another in the postseason, including three game-winning blows in extra innings and statement homers in the first inning in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series and Game 1 of the World Series. If the Cardinals' Albert Pujols is the righthanded Barry Bonds, Ortiz is the American League version, showing a Bonds-like knack to turn on inside pitches and keep them fair.

"Every guy that played with him saw what was coming," Red Sox first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz says of Ortiz, his former Twins teammate. "People seem to forget that in 2002, when (the Twins) made our run in the second half, he was like this. He was hurt the whole first half of ('02). When he was finally healthy, he put up tons of numbers."

Mientkiewicz is correct about '02--Ortiz had a .935 on-base/slugging percentage and 15 home runs in 229 at-bats after the All-Star break. But even then, the Twins had reason to be skeptical. Ortiz hadn't shown he could hit lefthanders. Because of injuries, he hadn't batted more than 415 times in a season. The Twins wanted to get more righthanded, and as always in their low-revenue position, they preferred less expensive talent. They had several potential replacements coming: Michael Cuddyer, Matthew LeCroy, Bobby Kielty and Dustan Mohr.

The Red Sox signed Ortiz for $1.25 million, adding him to a collection of newly acquired inexpensive hitters. Ortiz hardly distinguished himself in his first month, batting .212 with one homer in 52 at-bats. He was still a part-time player, squeezed by Giambi. His agent, Fernando Cuza, called Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein to express concern. Neither Cuza nor Ortiz formally requested a trade. But Epstein knew that might be their next step. Then, suddenly, everything clicked.