Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox on Cheers!
Boggs, Wade | Baseball Hall of Fame, from baseballhall.org
“…Boggs continued to spray line drives to all fields throughout every American League park. In 1985, his .368 batting average, a career best and the highest mark by a Red Sox player since Ted Williams hit .374 in 1957, not only led the big leagues but his 240 hits were the most in baseball in 55 years.
After the 1985 season, Williams was quoted as saying “Boggs is as smart a hitter as I’ve ever seen. The next five or six years will tell the tale, but if he keeps up like he’s going now, he stands to be one of the greatest hitters of all time.”
Boggs would remain with the Red Sox for 11 seasons (1982-92), winning five batting titles, finishing second once, and third twice.
Next for Boggs was a five-year stint with the New York Yankees, where he not only batted .313 during his stay in the Bronx but won Gold Glove awards at third base in 1994 and ‘95, at 36 years of age becoming the oldest first-time winner among non-pitchers.
It was with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he signed prior to the expansion franchise’s first season in 1998, that Boggs would not only play his final two seasons but also become the 23rd member of the 3,000th hit club.”
Wade Boggs – Baseball Hall of Fame Biographies
Wade Boggs Hall of Fame Induction speech – 2005
“I have a message for the young kids. Life is about
obstacles, endeavors in life are not to be overlooked. Our
lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react
to what happens, not by what life brings us but the attitude we
bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of
positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it
sparks extraordinary results.
One final thought. Just remember, baseball is just a game,
whether it’s your second year in little league or your second
year in the big leagues, you should always play the game with
passion, play the game with heart, and play the game you loved
and possibly one day your dreams can come true just like mine
did so many years ago when I first started dreaming about
playing baseball and making it to the big leagues.
Thank you to all my friends for coming a long way from
Tampa and around the United States. Thank you and may God bless
you.
Thank you.”–Transcript: Wade Boggs induction speech
8/1/2005
Good News Baseball
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