Another baseball season has begun.

Ho hum.

For 50 years, ever since the ’67 Boston Red Sox surprised and thrilled New England by making it to the World Series, I have enjoyed watching and following baseball. It really is a game of inches and to play it well, you have to be dedicated to the sport.

Now, I never saw Ted Williams play — though I consider him one of the best players of all time — and there have been other players who I have admired, such as Hank Aaron, Rod Carew, Frank Robinson, Thurman Munson (yes, a Yankee, but still a fine catcher) and a few others from the ’90s to the present.

But, like any Red Sox fan, I truly enjoyed following certain Boston “heroes,” with Carl Yastrzemski being the first. After he retired, I enjoyed following Jim Rice — not so much Fred Lynn as he seemed stuck on himself. I guess you could say Carlton Fisk and Dwight Evans were just a notch below Rice on my “interest” scale.

In the 1990s, Mo Vaugh was perhaps the most intriguing player but he eventually grew tired of staying at the top of his game and left the Sox.

Then, in 2003, along came this guy named David Ortiz. Over the past 14 years, he grew into the heart and soul of the Red Sox, leading them to three (and the first since 1908) World Series championships. His stats, his leadership, his clutch hits and his smile — a special player who is going to be sorely missed by Red Sox Nation.

Now what. Big Papi has retired. Who do we follow intently now?

So I am feeling a big void in my interest in Red Sox baseball this year. I don't see another player on the current roster who could fill Ortiz' shoes, as far as interest is concerned.

Well, hopefully by the first of October, one of the young fellows will pique my interest.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the 162-game schedule.