ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — He spends his days as a high school baseball coach and he’s often away on African safari. Hall of Famer Wade Boggs has a full head of hair these days and occasionally the Tampa native makes his way to Tropicana Field for an autograph signing at the Ted Williams Museum.
Boggs, 54, spent 11 seasons with the Red Sox and entered the Hall of Fame in 2005 wearing a Red Sox cap, yet his No. 26 has not been retired by the team.
Comments
Second That.
Ditto! Kiley
No, people. A Yankee is a Yankee. And YANKEES SUCK. (period, as in "absolute truth") It pains me that Fist has his numbA retired because he went to Chicago after the Sox. That is no kind of Red Sox. But Boggs? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
No way. Boggs should have his mouth retired, not his number..
Sorry to disagree all but I saw Boggs play and the number 26 should be retired. The sox were petty back then not giving him a contract and they let him walk. Hopefully this management team will right a wrong. John, Tom, and Larry, Do the right thing!
No. Way. Period.
Retiring a player's number is done both in recognition of his contributions on the field AND his contributions as a positive presence in Fenway, in Boston, in New England. Boggs was a TOXIC presence.
The same team that has fudged the numbers in pursuit of a "sellout" record has a strict criteria for retiring numbers? Please.
A Red Sox great has every right to go play for the Yankees if they so desire - Boggs, Clemens, Damon, etc. But certain things are lost when that decision is made. Absolutely, getting your number retired at Fenway should be one of the benefits sacrificed when deciding to play for the best team money can buy.
F-that.
Boggs' # 26 absolutely should be retired. The Sox silly criteria should also be retired.
Lawrence2 Boggs was not offered a reasonable contract that's why he left. Damon left because the sox didn't want to fork over the money and thought he was on the downside. Clemens, well he is a different story. Boggs was an on base machine similar to the third basemen they just shipped out, BTW they retired Fisk's number and his playing career ended with the White Sox. Sox management plays theses silly number games. It is time to grow up and recognize what a great player Boggs was and retire his number.
A player who left the Red Sox to go to the evil empire should NEVER have his number retired in Boston. It is the biggest betrayal in Baseball and should never be rewarded. Period. Finis. Exclamation!