HOF Sketch Card Project: Wade Boggs

Wade Boggs was a third baseman who became a star during the 1980s with the Boston Red Sox, establishing himself as the premiere third baseman in the American League. Playing for Boston from 1982 to 1992, Boggs, helped lead the team to the 1986 World Series, which they would ultimately lose to the New York Mets. Despite this defeat, Boggs would go on to win the only World Series title in his career in 1996, after joining the New York Yankees. He would close out his career by signing with the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998 and spending 2 seasons with the team. Boggs was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility.

I completed this sketch card in September 2012.

10 random facts about Wade Boggs:

• While playing in the minor leagues for the Pawtuckett Red Sox, Boggs was involved in the longest game in pro baseball history- a 33-inning affair that lasted more than 8 hours and resulted in Pawtuckett defeating the Rochester Red Wings 3-2.
• One of the greatest contact hitters ever, Boggs hit at least .325 every season between 1982 and 1988. 
• From 1983 to 1989, Boggs collected 200 hits for 7 consecutive seasons, establishing a record that was later matched and surpassed by Ichiro Suzuki.
• Boggs hit the first homer in Devil Rays history on March 31, 1998.
• Boggs became the first of only 2 players to record a home run as his 3,000th base hit on August 7, 1999.
• Along with Tony Gwynn, Boggs hit .350 in 4 straight seasons- the only players to do so since 1931.
• Boggs was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004.
• With 12 straight All-Star appearances, Boggs is third to only Brooks Robinson and George Brett in number of consecutive appearances as a third baseman.
• Boggs asked Fenway Park public address announcer Sherm Feller not to say his uniform number when being introduced; Boggs once broke out of a slump on a day when Feller forgot to announce his number.
• Known for his superstitions, Boggs ate chicken before every game, woke up at the same time every day, took exactly 117 ground balls in practice, took batting practice at 5:17, and ran sprints at 7:17.