Throughout the history of MLB, there have been controversial trades. We have seen how players are traded between clubs in the same city or between teams with a historic rivalry, mainly the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. This case has seen great players change jerseys with the arch-enemy of the area, starting with Babe Ruth, as well as cases such as Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs, the latter more than 30 years ago, but who this week explained why he made the change.
Hall of Famer Wade Boggs left the Boston Red Sox in free agency and signed with the New York Yankees in 1991, where the famous “Chicken Man” said that at the end of the season Red Sox owner Jean Yawkey sent him a message through her chauffeur if he would like to become a lifetime player for Boston as she did with Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams. To do so, they offered him $37 million for seven years, or $5.28 million per season.
Wade Boggs’ response to Boston Red Sox owner’s offer
For Wade Boggs, the offer was very attractive where in his meeting with Jean Yawkey he replied: “Where’s a napkin? I’ll sign one right now.” With negotiations progressing, Lou Gorman, general manager, and John Harrington, president of the Boston Red Sox were involved to finalize the contract. However, in early 1992, a domestic accident caused the death of Mrs. Yawkey so that in spring training they withdrew the offer and he became a free agent.
In New York, they followed the news closely, so the Yankees’ interim owner at the time, Joe Molloy, contacted Boggs to make him a counter offer. It is worth noting that the New York executive offered him a three-year contract for $11 million, or $3.6 million per season. Although the offer was inferior to that of the Boston Red Sox, the “chicken-eater” knew that he would not find a better proposal in another team.
Wade Boggs’ numbers with the New York Yankees
When he heard the figures, Boggs replied: “I think you have a new player,” and to one side of the office was a gentleman sitting reading the newspaper and when he looked up he realized that it was George Steinbrenner himself, who winked at Boggs and just said: “You’re going to do very well with us”. The new Yankees third baseman played five seasons in the Bronx, where he won the 1996 World Series. During his time in New York, Boggs hit an impressive .313, but that is nothing compared to his legacy in Boston.
During 11 seasons with the Red Sox, Boggs hit .338 and won five batting titles. This included seven consecutive 200-hit seasons with at least 100 runs scored. He led the majors in on-base percentage six times. His batting prowess also translated into four consecutive seasons with at least 100 walks. Boggs, a 12-time All-Star, won eight Silver Sluggers. But in 1992, his worst batting average was .259, which led the Red Sox to let him go in free agency.
He ended his career playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, his hometown team and the place where he hit his 3000th hit, becoming the first to hit a home run to reach this figure where he was later equaled by Yankees legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
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