The Red Sox waited an extra decade to do it compared to beloved stars like Pedro Martinez and Carlton Fisk, but they’ve announced they’ll finally put #26 on the right field roof deck facade:
The Red Sox today announced that the club will retire Wade Boggs’ uniform number 26 on May 26, 2016. The Hall of Famer’s .338 batting average with the Red Sox is second only to Ted Williams, and no one has ever played more games at third base in team history. He helped lead the Red Sox to three postseason berths, including the 1986 American League Championship, whose 30th anniversary will be celebrated this year.
The number 26 will be the 10th on the right field facade of Fenway Park, joining Bobby Doerr’s #1; Joe Cronin’s #4; Johnny Pesky’s #6; Carl Yastrzemski’s #8; Ted Williams’ #9; Jim Rice’s #14; Carlton Fisk’s #27; Pedro Martinez’s #45, and Jackie Robinson’s #42, which is retired throughout Major League Baseball. […]
“Wade Boggs took the art of hitting to an extraordinary level,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “From 1982 to 1992, the five-time batting champion was invincible. Boggs worked at his craft relentlessly and for nearly a decade New England fans worshiped him, pitchers feared him, and young children emulated him. It is fitting that his batting average with the Red Sox is second only to the greatest hitter who ever lived. We eagerly await the spring when we can honor the extraordinary legacy of this 12-time All Star.”
I’m torn. Objectively, Boggs is 4th in career Red Sox Wins Above Replacement (only Williams, Yaz & Clemens have more), ahead of a lot of guys who’ve already had their numbers retired. I always say you shouldn’t punish great players just for being a (non-criminal) jerk – I love Jim Rice & Manny Being Manny. And the national and Boston media absolutely hounded Boggs for his extramarital affair in the twilight of the era in which we pretended our sports heroes were also saints, something that wouldn’t be covered with nearly the degree of pearl-clutching & gawkery today.
On the other hand, he was a jackass who went to the Yankees, won a title with them & rubbed our noses in it, so screw that guy.
What do you think?
At least Bogg’s affair only hurt his wife, it didn’t have the potential to endanger innocent people like Fisk’s DUIs. Either way, I was happy to see Fisk in person at my first White Sox game for Carlton Fisk night, and I proudly had my Red Sox hat on which seemed just as appropriate.
I think enough time has passed that we can forgive Boggs his trespasses and honor himf or his on the field accomplishments which do stand out. Retiring Pedro meant more to me as a lifelong fan of his since I was a kid, but I think Boggs is a fine addition. It would be entirely different if we hadn’t beat the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and won three World Series since then, but I can forgive it. Johnny Damon on the other hand….
unless they change the rules and let in Fred Lynn
He was under-appreciated at the time, before the masses, and the management of the team, properly understood that a BB has value, and nearly as much value as a hit. Had he played 20 years later, he would be regarded as one of the greatest players in the game. I thought it fitting that his big moment in the World Series was to draw a pinch hit, bases-loaded walk.
Even if it was for the wrong team
because they had sucked for nearly 20 years. I was even sad that Mattingly couldn’t hang on for another year, before moving on to manage the 2010’s version of his 80s Yankees.
[Dodgers may have just signed Steve Bye Bye Balboni to a 9 zillion dollar contract]