The legend of Wade Boggs grew even larger when he made his pitching debut
The legend of Wade Boggs grew when he took the mound
If you have children, or just happen to know some children, have them gather around and tell them the legend of Wade Boggs. Quite likely, they'll never believe that he's a real person.
After all, you'll be telling them of a man with a mustache as thick as a forest and as red as that forest on fire. He's a man with a swing so perfect he would collect 3,000 hits and five batting titles and had a routine so particular, he would eat only chicken before every game, even leading to a collection of his recipes titled "Fowl Tips." His constitution was so strong he could drink many, many ... beverages.
Oh yeah, and did I mention that he had an amazing knuckleball? That's right, move over, Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan, Wade Boggs is the real American hero.
On Aug. 19, 1997, Boggs finally got his first chance to show off that magical pitch. With the Yankees trailing, 12-4 in the eighth inning against the Angels, Boggs finally got his chance to shine. Working behind a bullpen/the fence housing the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, the third baseman could barely hide his excitement.
Once he came on, Boggs showed off a beautiful, dancing knuckler. And while the pitch occasionally got away from the third baseman as he walked the leadoff batter, he soon got the pitch back under control. Boggs would get two two groundouts before stranding the runner with a strikeout of catcher Todd Greene to end the inning.
Boggs would get one more chance to take the mound two years later. At the age of 41 and now a member of the then-Devil Rays, Boggs couldn't quite capture the magic again. He'd go 1 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and his first career earned run. Though, this being Boggs, he would of course strike out another batter.
For he is not a man -- he is a myth, a legend, a tall tale we tell our children to inspire them to greatness.
