Wade Boggs

Wade Anthony Boggs (born June 15, 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Boston Red Sox, whose hitting dominated the American League in much the same way as his contemporary Tony Gwynn dominated the National League in the 1980s and 1990s. Boggs was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. With 12 straight All-Star appearances, Boggs is second only to Brooks Robinson in number of consecutive appearances as a third baseman.

Related Topics:
June 15 - 1958 - Omaha, Nebraska - Third baseman - Major League Baseball - Boston Red Sox - American League - Tony Gwynn - National League - Baseball Hall of Fame - 2005 - All-Star - Brooks Robinson

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A left-handed hitter, Boggs won a total of five batting titles starting in 1983. He also batted .349 in his rookie year which would have won the batting title, but was 121 plate appearances short of the required minimum of 502. From 1982 to 1988, Boggs only hit below .349 once, hitting .325 in 1984. From 1983 to 1989, Boggs rattled off seven consecutive seasons in which he collected 200 or more hits, an American League record for consecutive 200-hit seasons. Boggs also had six seasons with 200 or more hits, 100+ runs and 40+ doubles. Although he would not win another batting title after 1988, he regularly appeared among the league leaders in hitting.

Related Topics:
1983 - 1982 - 1988 - 1989

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Boggs admitted in 1988 to adulterous affairs, and many baseball observers felt a lawsuit filed against Boggs by a former mistress in 1989 distracted Boggs that year.

Related Topics:
1988 - Adulterous affairs - 1989

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In 1992, Boggs slumped to .259 – one of only three times in his career that he failed to reach .300 – and at the end of the season left the Red Sox, with whom he had spent his entire career, to sign with the New York Yankees. Boggs rebounded with four straight .300-plus seasons and even collected two Gold Glove Awards for his defense – his fielding statistics were close to the league average during most of his career – but by 1997 he was no longer a full-time player. Boggs signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the final two seasons of his career, in 1999 collecting his 3,000th hit. Ironically, given his deserved reputation as a singles hitter with limited power, he was the first (and as of 2005 only) member of the 3,000-hit club to reach that total with a home run. Boggs received some criticism for skipping road games to ensure he would get No. 3000 in Tampa Bay and after hitting the home run he knelt down and kissed home plate to celebrate. Boggs retired in 1999 after sustaining a knee injury, leaving with a career batting average of .328 and 3,010 hits.

Related Topics:
1992 - New York Yankees - Gold Glove Awards - 1997 - Tampa Bay Devil Rays - As of 2005 - Home run - 1999

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Boggs was known for his superstitions as much as his hitting. He ate chicken before every game, woke up at the same time every day, took exactly 150 ground balls in practice, took batting practice at 5:17 and ran sprints at 7:17. His route to and from his position in the field beat a path to the home dugout, and he drew the Hebrew word "חי-Chai" (meaning "life") in the batter's box before each at-bat.

Related Topics:
Chicken - Hebrew

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Boggs is credited with teaching the Yankees their current pitch-selection technique; swinging only at perfect pitches and fouling off close but tough to hit pitches, forcing teams to go to their usually weak bullpens. Before Boggs joined the Yankees, they were 14th in pitches per plate appearance, and 4th and then 1st after he joined. In addition, the Yankees were 12th and 8th in on base percentage the two years prior to Boggs joining the team and 2nd the year he came on board (1993), followed by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 1st.

Related Topics:
On base percentage - 1993

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In 1987, Boggs – who was up for a new contract following the season – hit 24 home runs, easily the most in any year of his career.

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His #12 has been retired by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Although he has not had his number retired by the Boston Red Sox, he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2004.

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Wade Boggs made a famous guest appearance in an episode of The Simpsons where he was punched out by Barney Gumble after an argument over who was the best Prime Minister in England's history.

Related Topics:
The Simpsons - Barney Gumble - Prime Minister

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He also had a guest appearance in an episode of Futurama, as a head in a sports museum. When Hank Arron XXIV drinks out of Wade Boggs' jar he says:"Wade Boggs, goes down smooth!"

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