1993 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Signed to a three-year contract, the free agent must show he hasn't lost his skills after his career took a sudden nosedive. His career-low batting average was 86 points below his lifetime mark entering the 1992 season. Boggs had never hit below .302 in 10 previous and his hit total represented his fewest since his rookie year.
He struggled mightily in the leadoff position, compiling a .222 average in 55 games compared to a .287 mark in the 78 games in which he batted third. Opposing managers still respect him because he drew a league-leading 19 intentional walks. He was still the third-toughest in the American League to strike out, fanning once per 19.3 at-bats.
Boggs was never embraced by Red Sox fans even though he captured five AL batting titles from 1983-88, missing only in 1984. He was branded by some as a selfish player because of his preoccupation with his statistics.
Born June 15, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska, Boggs was the Red Sox' seventh-round pick in the 1976 draft."
-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1993 Edition
"Thank you, Boston. Thank you for Paul Revere. Thank you for baked beans and clam chowder. Thank you for the Babe. Thank you for Sparky Lyle. And thank you for Wade Anthony Boggs, the greatest hitter of his time.
When the Red Sox and Boggs could not get together on a contract last season, that made Boggs a free agent. The Yankees jumped right in and signed him, meaning that for at least three years, Boggs will bring his sweet swing and his collection of five batting titles to Yankee Stadium.
Boggs comes off his poorest season, a .259 batting average which he says is attributable to a number of things. A bad back. Concern over his contract status. A too-late discovery that he needs contact lenses. Last season's average tumbled Boggs' lifetime mark seven points to a mere .338, by far the best among active players. Age 34, Boggs reasons, is not too old to expect a return to his previous form, which he vows will happen.
With Boggs and Don Mattingly, the Yankees will have No. 2 and No. 3 hitters who, coming into this season, have combined for 3,852 hits and won six batting titles. If you think that gets Yankee fans excited, how do you think it makes Danny Tartabull feel? He bats right behind them."
-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook
"1992 was a sub-par season for the five-time batting champion, eight-time All-Star and ten-time .300 hitter. Boggs hit .259 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs, hitting below .300 for the first time in his 11-year career. He set career lows in virtually every offensive category and failed to reach 100 runs, 100 bases on balls or 200 hits for the third consecutive season, but finished eighth among American League third basemen in fielding with a .952 success rate.
Boggs led the American League in intentional walks (19) and has now led or tied for the AL lead for six consecutive seasons, extending his major league record (since they were first kept in 1955). He ranked third toughest to fan in the AL (1K/19.3 plate appearances).
He hit a club best .311 (33-for-106) with runners in scoring position and drove in 12 of 20 runners from third base with less than two outs. He hit .286 (4-for-14) with a homer and 12 RBIs with the bases loaded. He led the Red Sox with 40 multi-hit games, including three four-hit games.
Boggs' batting average was better than .300 on just one day, April 12 (.308). He notched career hit No. 2,000 on May 17 against California, a single off Mark Langston. He had his third career two-homer game on May 22 against Oakland, both off Dave Stewart. He hit his third career grand slam on June 17 at Toronto off Dave Stieb.
He was named to his eighth consecutive All-Star team, his seventh consecutive as a starter. July was the only month Wade hit .300 (.304). He followed that with his worst month ever, hitting .198 in August. Included was a career worst-tying 0-for-21 skid from August 22-30. He hit his final home run on August 4 at Toronto off David Wells, his only homer against left-handed pitching.
Wade hit leadoff in 55 games, from the beginning of the season through May 8 and from July 26 through August 30, hitting a combined .222 in that capacity. He hit in the No. 3 spot in 80 games, batting .288 with 32 RBIs.
His career .338 batting average fell seven points from his .345 average entering the 1992 season.
He signed a three-year contract with the Yankees as a free agent in December 1992. The contract extends through the 1995 season. Wade participated in the 1992 post-season major league tour of Japan.
With the bases loaded, Boggs has a career .359 batting average (42-for-117, 13 BB, 15 K, 3 hit by pitch, 11 sac flies) with three grand slams and 109 RBIs. He has a .349 average (462-for-1324) with runners in scoring position. In his career he has driven home 201 of 293 (69%) of runners from third with less than two out.
He has a career .354 batting average (1509-for-4257) against right-handed pitching and a .301 average (589-for-1956) against left-handers. He has 47 four-hit games and three five-hit games. He has four career home runs leading off a game.
Since 1901, only 38 players (totaling 88 times) have reached base 300 times in a season (hit, walk, hit by pitch), including 22 AL players (58 times) and 16 NL players (30 times). The top 10 all-time totals have been accomplished by American Leaguers with the highest National League total coming from Lefty O'Doul (334) in 1929 (tied for 11th). Since 1958, only nine players have accomplished this (7 AL, 2 NL), doing so 19 times. Only nine players have done so two times or more: Gehrig & Ruth (9), Williams (7), Boggs & Musial (6), Rose (5), Foxx & Hornsby (4) and Gehringer, Mantle & Speaker (3).
In history, only nine players (21 times) have had 200 hits and 100 walks in the same season. In 1989 Boggs became the first player to accomplish this in four consecutive seasons. When he did it for the first time in 1986, he became the first player since Stan Musial in 1953 to achieve this. The number of times this has been accomplished: Gehrig (7), Boggs (4), Ruth (3), Musial (2), Cobb, English, Foxx, Greenberg and Wilson, once each.
Boggs has been pinch-hit for three times: on April 26, 1982, at Chicago by Dave Stapleton; on September 24, 1988, at New York by Jim Rice; and on September 29, 1989, against Milwaukee by Marty Barrett. His 1,521 games played at third base are the most in Red Sox history. He has been named American League Player of the Month twice and AL Player of the Week five times.
The Red Sox' 7th round pick in the June 1976 free agent draft, Wade was signed by George Digby on June 10, 1976. In 1977, he hit .332 at Winston-Salem, finishing fourth in the Carolina League in hitting. He was named to the league and Topps, Class-A all-star teams.
Wade hit .311 at AA Bristol in 1978, finishing third in the Eastern League in hitting. He hit .325 at Bristol in 1979, finishing second in the EL in hitting. He led the league's third basemen in fielding percentage (.953) and was named to the circuit's All-Star team.
In 1980 Boggs hit .306 at AAA Pawtucket, losing the International League batting title on the final day by .0007 to Toledo's Dave Engle. He hit .335 in 1981 to win the IL batting championship, securing the title on the season's final day. Boggs set nine Pawtucket records for left-handed hitters, while also leading the IL in hits (167) and doubles (41).
1982 was his first year with the Red Sox after five straight .300-plus seasons in the minors. Boggs set the American League rookie record (minimum of 100 games) with a .349 batting average. He finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Cal Ripken, Jr. and Kent Hrbek.
Wade's first major league hit came on April 26 at old Comiskey Park off Richard Dotson. His first home run came on June 22 against Detroit, an 11th inning blast off Dave Tobik giving the Red Sox a 5-4 win.
He was placed in the starting lineup on June 25 when Carney Lansford suffered an injury and hit .361 the remainder of the season. Wade played 44 games at third base and 49 games at first base, starting the final 35 games at first.
In 1983 Wade led the majors with a .361 batting average, a .449 on-base percentage and 68 multi-hit games. He ranked second in the majors in hits (210) and doubles (44) and ranked third in the AL in bases on balls (89). He became the ninth Red Sox player to win a batting title and his batting average was the highest for the club since Ted Williams hit .388 in 1957. Boggs was voted to the UPI American League and the Sporting News AL and Silver Slugger teams.
He was 0-for-3 on Opening Day and his batting average was as low as .333 for the final time on May 19. It peaked at .390 on June 6. He was AL Player of the Week from July 11-17. He hit .397 at Fenway and .321 on the road.
Boggs hit .325 (3rd in the AL) in 1984 with six home runs and 55 RBIs. He led the majors in reaching base (292 times) and was second in the AL in multi-hit games (57), hits (203) and on-base percentage (.407).
He hit .290 through July 1, enduring a career worst 0-for-21 skid, and hit .323 for the month of July. Boggs had the first of his three two-home run games on August 6 against Detroit, also doubling and singling in that game to post a career best 11 total bases. He hit .326 in August and .405 in September to raise his average and ended the season by hitting safely in 11 straight games.
Wade had seven four-hit games in 1984, including back-to-back against the Yankees on September 8-9. He hit .352 at home and .296 on the road. He led AL third basemen in games (156) and double plays (30).
In 1985 he hit was is still a career best .368 to lead the majors. He also stroked 240 hits, the most in the majors in the 55 years since Bill Terry of the New York Giants had 254 hits in 1930. It was the most in the American League since Heinie Manush had 241 for the St. Louis Browns in 1928. Boggs also led the majors in singles (187, an AL record), multi-hit games (72, a Red Sox record) and in on-base percentage (.450).
He had what is still a career best 28-game hitting streak (3rd longest in Red Sox history). He reached base safely 340 times, in 152 of 161 games. Boggs set an AL record with 758 plate appearances, breaking Bobby Richardson's 1962 record (754). He hit safely in 135 games, tying Chuck Klein's major league record (1930) and breaking Al Simmons' AL mark (133 in 1925).
Wade never went hitless in more than two straight games (four times, none after June 12) and his longest hitless drought was 10 at-bats (twice, both by May 21). He hit .300 through June 12 and .402 over the remainder of the season.
Wade had seven four-hit games and 19 three-hit games. He hit .418 at home, the second highest home mark in club history (Williams, .429 in 1941). He hit .397 with runners in scoring position.
He ranked third in the AL in doubles (42), fourth in total bases (312) and fifth in bases on balls (96). He led AL third basemen in total chances (486), was tied for first in games (161) and second in putouts (134).
Boggs was named to the All-Star team and to the post-season Sporting News AL team. He was the Red Sox booster club (BoSox Club) 'Man of the Year' for his cooperation in community efforts and contributions to the team.
He led the majors in four offensive categories in 1986: batting average (.357), bases on balls (105), on-base percentage (.453) and reaching base safely (312 times). He led the club in doubles (47, 2nd in the AL), runs (107) and hits (207, 4th in the AL). Boggs became the first Red Sox player ever and the first in the majors since Stan Musial in 1953 to notch a 200-hit, 100-walk season.
Boggs had 63 multi-hit games. He had the first of three career five-hit games on May 20 against Minnesota, and the second on May 31 at Minnesota. He added six four-hit games and a 20-game hitting streak from August 29-September 18, hitting .405 (34-for-84) in that span.
He hit .471 with 20 RBIs in May to earn Player of the Month honors. He hit his first career grand slam at Texas on May 25 off Mike Mason. His season batting average peaked at .404 on June 6.
Wade lost his mother to an auto accident on June 17. His batting average was .380 at that time.
He hit a career low .247 in July but hit .353 in August and .398 in September. He moved into the leadoff spot on August 6 and hit .385 over the next 51 games.
Wade hit safely in his final seven games at .548 to raise his average from .346 to .357. He missed the season's final four games with a pulled right hamstring.
He hit a club best .359 (42-for-117) with runners in scoring position. He drove home 17 of 24 baserunners from third with less than two out. He hit .357 in Fenway Park and .356 on the road. Boggs' road batting average was the club's highest since Williams' .374 in 1957. He hit .359 against right-handed pitching and .352 against southpaws and hit .324 from the seventh inning on.
He led American League third basemen in putouts (121), was tied for second in double plays (30) and was fourth in total chances (408). Four of his 19 errors were the result of bad throws.
Boggs made his first All-Star Game appearance (1-for-1, 1 BB). He was voted to the Sporting News and UPI postseason AL All-Star teams.
He hit safely in six of the seven American League Championship Series games against California (.233 BA) and drove two runs in the seventh game. He hit .290 in the World Series against the Mets. He had the game-winning RBI in game 2 and had three hits in Game 6.
In 1987, Boggs led the league in hitting (.363) and the majors in on-base percentage (.461), the third consecutive season he did so. He reached base 307 times and set career highs in home runs (24), RBIs (89), total bases (324), slugging (.588), extra-base hits (70) and intentional bases on balls (a league leading 19). Wade ranked second in the AL in doubles (40), third in slugging, fourth in hits (200) and tied for fourth in extra-base hits.
He notched career hit No. 1000 on April 30 in the Kingdome off Scott Bankhead. He was hitting .283 through the first 25 games when he was moved to third in the batting order on May 5. He hit .379 the rest of the season.
Wade had a 25-game hitting streak from May 28-June 24 during which he hit .458 (44-for-96). It was his third 20-plus-game hitting streak of his career and the second longest. He led the league in hitting from June 17 on.
He hit .485 in June to win American League Player of the Month honors. His only sacrifice fly of the year came on June 6 against the Twins; from 1984-87 he converted on 16 of 16 sacrifice attempts. Wade was AL Player of the Week from June 15-21. He hit his second career grand slam on June 29 against Baltimore (Scott McGregor). His season high batting average was .391 on June 30.
An end-of-the-season injury to his left knee caused him to pinch-hit just once in the final 12 games and prevented him from leading the majors in several categories. The knee required surgery on October 1.
Boggs hit seven home runs off left-handed pitching and 11 that either tied a game or put the Sox ahead. He went hitless in more than two games only once, a four-game stretch from September 4-8. He had 39 game-tying or go-ahead RBIs. He drove in 26 of 35 baserunners from third with less than two outs.
He hit a sizzling .411 at home, the third highest home batting average in club history. He hit .312 at home and .377 against right-handed pitching. He hit .375 (9-for-24, 3 HR, 9 RBI) on 0-2 pitches.
Boggs led major league third basemen in double plays (37) and was third in the AL in fielding (.965), making only 14 errors (four throwing). On May 5 against Oakland he made his first appearance at first base since 1982.
He was named to the UPI, Sporting News and Baseball America AL All-Star teams and the AP major league All-Star team. Boggs was also named to the Sporting News Silver Slugger team and was second in the Gold Glove voting.
He hit a sizzling .366 in 1988 to win his fourth consecutive AL batting title and fifth in the last six years. He became the first player since 1900 to post six consecutive 200-hit seasons and joined Lou Gehrig (1930-32) as the only two players ever with three consecutive 200-hit, 100-walk seasons. Boggs joined Williams (4 times), Yastrzemski and Rogers Hornsby (2 times each) as the only players to lead their league in batting average and bases on balls more than once. He reached base safely (hit, walk, hit by pitch) 342 times, tying Gehrig for the sixth highest total ever, and posted the highest total since Williams (358) in 1959.
Boggs led the majors with 128 runs, the most by any Boston player since Dom DiMaggio in 1950 (131). He also led the majors in doubles (45), walks (125) and on-base percentage (.476). He ranked second in the majors in hits (214) and multi-hit games (64), his fourth time with 60-plus multi-hit games. He tied teammate Mike Greenwell for the AL lead in intentional bases on balls (18).
He hit .400 in a month twice, May (.400) and September (.423). He had three consecutive hitless games twice, but never more than three. Wade hit a AL best .351 on the road, .382 in Fenway. Four of his five home runs came at home, with two going into the left field screen. He led AL third basemen in putouts (122) and ranked fourth in the loop in fielding (.971).
Wade hit primarily third in the batting order (63 games) until mid-June when he was moved into the leadoff spot (91 games). He hit the only inside-the-park homer of his career at Kansas City on July 2 off Charlie Liebrandt. He led the AL in hitting from July 31 on, with the exception of August 14 (trailing Kirby Puckett .356 to .355). Boggs was AL Player of the Week for August 22-28.
Boggs was named to the UPI, Sporting News and Baseball America AL All-Star teams and the AP major league All-Star team. He was also named to the Sporting News Silver Slugger team.
In the A.L.C.S. against Oakland, Boggs led Boston with a .385 batting average (5-for-13, 3 RBIs). In Game One he had a 7th inning sacrifice fly but was struck out by Dennis Eckersley with runners on first and second to end the game. He was 3-for-4 with two RBIs in Game 3. He handled 12 chances without an error.
Wade hit .330 in 1989 with three home runs and 54 RBIs. He ranked in the top three in eight AL categories with a league best-tying 113 runs scored and a league best 51 doubles, .430 on-base percentage and 19 intentional bases on balls. Wade was tied for second in the majors in hits (205), tied for second in the AL in multi-hit games (58) and was third in the AL in batting average and bases on balls (107).
After a hot start (.419 batting average through 10 games), including being named American Player of the week May 1-7, he was hitting a season low .288 on May 23. Wade's monthly best was a .381 batting average in June. After hitting the league in hitting (.421) on April 14, he did not lead the league again until August 8. From that point on he alternated between first and second with Kirby Puckett, leading for the last time on August 29 (.341). Boggs had a 2-for-27 stretch (including 0-for-16 in the middle) in early September, falling out of the race on September 19 (.322). He hit .447 over the season's final nine games.
Boggs reached base safely (H, BB or HBP) 319 times, the fifth straight year (and sixth overall) he reached base 300-plus times. His sixth time ranked him tied for fourth most in major league history with Stan Musial, behind Gehrig and Ruth (tied with 9) and Williams (7). It marked the seventh consecutive year Boggs led the majors in reaching base safely.
He also had his seventh consecutive season with 200-plus hits, extending his modern-day record. Coupled with his 107 walks, he became the only player to post 200-hit, 100-walk efforts in four consecutive seasons.
Wade hit leadoff in 123 games (.321 BA) and third in 32 games (.407). He had six four-hit games, hit .339 with runners in scoring position and was ranked the eighth toughest to fan in the American League.
He led AL third basemen in double plays (29) and putouts (123) and finished second in games (132). His .958 fielding percentage ranked fourth.
Boggs was voted to his fourth straight AL All-Star team and hit the second of consecutive first-inning homers with Bo Jackson. He was named to the UPI AL All-Star team and the Sporting News Silver Slugger team for the fourth consecutive year.
In 1990, Boggs batted .302 with six home runs and 63 RBIs. He drew fewer than 100 walks (87) for the first time since 1985 and struck out a career worst 68 times. Boggs was never closer than fourth in the AL batting race.
He led the circuit with 19 intentional bases on balls, ranked second in hits (187), tied for second in multi-hit games (54), tied for third in doubles (44), sixth in on-base percentage (.386), eighth in bases on balls and tied for 10th in extra-base hits (55). His 275 times reaching base led the league for the eighth straight season (after leading the majors in the previous seven seasons).
Wade tied the major league record with three intentional walks in a nine-inning game on April 10 against Detroit. Playing in his fifth straight All-Star Game, he was 2-2 with a walk He hit leadoff in the first 90 games before being placed third in the batting order on July 23.
His batting average was a season best .312 five times, the last on September 12. Wade hit .275 in September after having a .365 average for that month before the 1990 season. He hit .316 over the final 98 games.
Wade was injured three different occasions: an injured left wrist in May, a fractured right toe in August and back and hip problems in September. His 152 games at third were tied for first in the loop and made 20 errors (tied for 4th), his highest total since 1984.
He hit a club best .338 with runners in scoring position and drove home 20 of 31 runs from third base with less than two out. He was 6-for-13 with 14 RBIs with the bases loaded. He hit .359 at home and a career low .245 on the road. He hit .319 against right-handers and .274 against lefties.
In the AL playoffs against Oakland, Boggs hit .438 (7-for-16) hitting safely in all four games. He also hit the only home run by either team in the series, off Dave Stewart in Game One, as he and Ellis Burks were the only players with two extra-base hits.
1991 was a solid season for the veteran third baseman as Boggs finished second in the majors in hitting (.332) to Julio Franco and fourth in on-base percentage (.461). He hit .300-plus for the tenth consecutive season and led the AL in intentional walks with 25, a personal best.
He was tied for fourth in the AL in doubles (42), becoming the second player in major league history with seven consecutive seasons of 40-plus doubles (Joe Medwick 1933-39) and the fourth player with eight 40-double seasons overall. Boggs had at least 100 singles and 50 extra-base hits for the seventh consecutive season, the first AL player to do so since Joe DiMaggio (1936-42).
He also ranked first in the AL as the toughest to strike out (1 K every 20 plate appearances), tied for eighth in walks (89) and tied for ninth in hits (181). Wade hit a club best .389 at home and a major league best .361 (137-for-380) against right-handers. He drove in 17 of 22 runners from third base with less than two out. His eight homers were his most since hitting 24 in 1987.
He reached base safely 270 times, his lowest total since 1982. His 144 games played was also his fewest since his rookie season. His 52 extra-base hits were his fewest since 1984. He hit leadoff 108 times (.347 BA) and batted third 32 times (.271).
On July 15 against Chicago (Ramon Garcia), he hit his fourth career leadoff-a-game home run. He had a personal best five hits, including three doubles on July 31 at Oakland. He hit .415 in July.
From July 31 on, Wade ranked in the top three in batting average, peaking at .343 on August 12-13. He hit in a season-best 10 straight games in August. A sore back forced him to miss several games in July and August. An injured right shoulder forced him to miss six of the final eight games of the season.
His .338 batting average on September 1 made Boggs the American League leader for the first time since August 29, 1989. His final time leading the league was on September 9 (.339).
Boggs made 12 errors but only two after July 21. His .968 fielding percentage ranked fourth in the AL. He was second in double plays (34) and fourth in games, putout, assists and total chances.
He was named to the postseason AL All-Star teams of UPI and the Sporting News and named to the Sporting News Silver Slugger team for the sixth time.
Wade attended H.B. Plant High School in Tampa. Originally a shortstop at Plant, he was MVP, All-Conference, All-State and All-American. He was also All-State and a three-year letterman on the football team. Wade was a shortstop in Little League and in Legion ball.
Wade is very involved in fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis organization and is involved with the American Cancer Society. He began eating chicken in 1993, coinciding with his charity-driven cookbook, 'Fowl Tips.' "
-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide
Holds American League rookie record for highest batting average, 100+ games (.349), 1982.
Led American League in batting (.361), 1983.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.444), 1983.
Led American League in singles (154), 1983.
Led American League third basemen in errors (27), 1983.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1983.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1983.
Led American League in singles (162), 1984.
Led American League third basemen in double plays (30), 1984.
Tied for American League lead in errors, third basemen, (20), 1984.
American League All-Star, 1985.
Led American League in batting (.368), 1985.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.450), 1985.
Led American League in hits (240), 1985.
Led American League in singles (187), 1985.
Holds American League single-record for most singles (187), 1985.
Shares major league single-season record for most games, one or more hits (135), 1985.
Led American League third basemen in total chances (486), 1985.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1985.
American League All-Star, 1986.
Led American League in batting (.357), 1986.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.453), 1986.
Led American League in bases on balls (105), 1986.
Led American League third basemen in putouts (121), 1986.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1986.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1986.
American League All-Star, 1987.
Led American League in batting (.363), 1987.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.461), 1987.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (19), 1987.
Led American League third basemen in double plays (37), 1987.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1987.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1987.
American League All-Star, 1988.
Led American League in batting (.366), 1988.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.476), 1988.
Led American League in runs (128), 1988.
Led American League in bases on balls (125), 1988.
Led American League in doubles (45), 1988.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (18), 1988.
Led American League, double plays grounded into (23), 1988.
Led American League third basemen in putouts (122), 1988.
Shares American League single-season, fewest double plays by a third baseman, 150+ games (17), 1988.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1988.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1988.
American League All-Star, 1989.
Led American League in on-base percentage (.430), 1989.
Tied for American League in runs (113), 1989.
Led American League in doubles (51), 1989.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (19), 1989.
Led American League third basemen in double plays (29), 1989.
Led American League third basemen in putouts (123), 1989.
Holds American League record, most consecutive seasons, 200+ hits (7), 1983-89.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League Silver Slugger team, 1989.
American League All-Star, 1990.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (19), 1990.
Shares American League single-season record, fewest chances by a third baseman, 150+ games (349), 1990.
American League All-Star, 1991.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (25), 1991.
Holds major league record, most consecutive seasons leading his league in intentional bases on balls (5), 1987-91.
Named third baseman on the Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1991.
American League All-Star, 1992.
Led American League in intentional bases on balls (19), 1992.
-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide
Wade Anthony Boggs "Boggsy" (3B) #12
Born June 15, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska, resides in Tampa, Florida. Height: 6-2, weight: 197. Bats left, throws right.
Married, Debbie (12/21/76), and father of Meagann (14) and Brett (6).
Major league service: 11 years, 0 days. Opening Day age: 34.
-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide
WADE BOGGS: ONCE A HITTER, ALWAYS A HITTER
"When Wade Boggs walked to the batter's box for the first time at Fenway Park for the first time since signing with the Yankees as a free agent, he received a raucous mix of boos and cheers.
How could it be otherwise?
Boggs had arguably been one of the great hitters of his time in his 11 years in a Boston Red Sox uniform. He won five batting titles in that uniform, including four straight from 1985-88 while never hitting below .357 in any of those years.
Boggs opened his Boston career with 10 straight .300 seasons. He rattled off seven straight 200-hit seasons from 1983-89. He produced a lifetime .338 average, second only to the great Ted Williams.
Many of the Fenway Park faithful heartily cheered Boggs' history of accomplishment.
Others, though, could not forget the history of the fierce Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. They cringed at the sight of Boggs in a Yankee uniform. They could not help but boo.
The discordant reception Boggs received made for a strange scene at Fenway when he returned in late May, and it made for a difficult evening for the emotional veteran as he stepped into the batter's box against Boston starter John Dopson.
Boggs won the confrontation against his former teammate by pulling a single beyond the reach of second baseman Scott Fletcher. Boggs' next at-bat came in the third inning and he again bettered Dopson by punching a single to center. Two innings later, Boggs rammed a single up the middle for his third hit in as many at-bats.
When Boggs next stepped to the plate against Dopson, in the seventh inning, there was a tremendous sense of anticipation. Would he be able to turn this highly-charged evening into a memorable four-hit evening? Would he give those who filled Fenway a night with which to remember the greatness he displayed for 11 years in Beantown?
Boggs masterfully worked the count full before singling up the middle. Four for four! When Boggs reached first base, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation from the Fenway Park crowd of 34,170. Dissent had given way to a warm appreciation of Boggs' remarkable talent. A Yankee was heartily cheered in Boston.
Boggs, who drew a walk in his final plate appearance after falling behind 0-2, described the evening as the stuff of which fairy tales are made. But this was all true.
'This is the most difficult game I've played, bar none,' Boggs said when it was over. 'I can't describe the feeling. I don't know if it was emotional or what it was. I never felt it in an All-Star Game or World Series game.'
While Yankees manager Buck Showalter was disappointed by that night's 7-2 loss to Boston, he appreciated the individual performance he had witnessed.
'You see why he accomplished the things he did with the way he blocked out the negativism that might have been associated with his return here. It makes you understand very quickly why he's the type of hitter he's been over the years,' Showalter said.
It does indeed.
Spike Owen has had two chances to admire Boggs' talent up close. They were teammates in Boston from 1986-88 and now the two free-agent signees are reunited with the Yankees. Owen was with the Red Sox to watch Boggs fashion averages of .357, 363 and .366, each good for a batting title.
'If you sit back and look at it you say, 'Man, what a roll he had.' They weren't lucky years. They were years of consistency,' Owen marveled.
'It was great watching the guy day and day out put up the numbers he put up. I've never played with anybody who consistently hit like that. It was very seldom when he went hitless and it didn't last long. If he didn't get a hit the night before, he'd get three the next night.'
Owen believes the key to Boggs' success was, and still is, a superior mental approach to the game. 'The physical tools are certainly very important,' he said, 'but to be able to accomplish that you've got to be really strong mentally and have a lot of confidence.
'It's a sport where you go out and play every single night pretty much and a lot of times you are mentally tired. To do the things he's done is not only a credit to his physical ability but to a very strong mental attitude.'
Owen believes the move to the Yankees will help Boggs regain that mental edge. 'It's a fresh start for him and something really different for him because he's been in Boston his whole career,' the shortstop noted. 'He's been made to feel wanted here, which is very big for anybody.'
The Yankees, rebounding from the loss of third baseman Charlie Hayes to Colorado in the expansion draft, made a strong commitment to Boggs by signing him to a three-year, $11-million contract as a free agent. It was a bold stroke since many teams shied away from the 35-year-old because he was coming off a poor season.
Boggs batted .259 last year, abruptly ending his string of 10 consecutive .300 seasons. The average represented a 73-point tumble from the summer before and caused Boggs' lifetime mark to drop from .345 to .338. It also stirred speculation that the five-time batting champion's best days were far behind him.
It was not the first time he had heard that.
'In 1990, when I hit .302, everyone said my skills were fading. 'I'd never be a .330 or .340 hitter again,' Boggs recalled. 'The next year I hit .330 (actually .332).'
His average this season has hovered consistently around the .315 mark despite not playing every day. Boggs is convinced he has not lost any of his physical skills. 'If I did,' he says, 'I wouldn't be here. When that day comes, I quit.'
Showalter senses a welcome determination in Boggs. 'I think he's looking at the season as kind of a mission to show everybody he's still capable of being a good player,' the manager says.'I just want him to continue his high on-base percentage, catch the ball at third base, do the job defensively, and be the Wade Boggs we know.'
Boggs is certain his final average will return to its previous lofty height.
'I'd bet the house on it,' he declares.'You don't just take a career .340 hitter and turn him into a .240 hitter overnight. It just doesn't happen.'
Boggs' expectations as a Yankee are high.
'My lifetime average is .338 or something. If I hit my lifetime average, it's a great year,' he says. 'Naturally, I want to hit a lot higher than that.' "
1993 New York Yankees Scorebook & Souvenir Program, pg. 20
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