CLEARWATER - Before Wade Boggs got ready to step into the batter's box for Sunday's Home Run Derby prior to the Legends of Baseball Game at Bright House Networks Field, he could not help but look into the future.
The Tampa native and Plant High graduate also is in Cooperstown's on-deck circle.
Boggs, who won the American League batting title in five of his first seven seasons, becomes eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and should easily garner the 75 percent of the vote required for induction.
"I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel now," said Boggs, 45,before slamming five home runs in the derby. "It's getting closer and closer every day, and this great event makes it even more special."
The announced crowd of 6,026 at the new Phillies spring training facility helped raise more than $40,000 for All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. The American League Legends tied the National Leaguers in the seven-inning game, 2-2. Former Astros star Kevin Bass teamed with actor Zachery Ty Bryan to win the homer contest, defeating Boggs and Bucs fullback Mike Alstott, who wore a Rays uniform, in the final.
Hall of Famers present were Lou Brock, Bob Feller, Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt.
Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor will be inducted this summer.
Boggs, who had 3,010 hits over 18 seasons, might be the only inductee among the first-time candidates in 2005. That might open the door for players such as Ryne Sandberg, who received the most votes (309) for players not elected in 2004, and pitcher Bert Blyleven, also in attendance Sunday.
"If 3,000 hits are a magic number, then why aren't 3,000 strikeouts?" said Blyleven, who had 3,701 strikeouts. "Everybody who has 3,000 strikeouts is in the Hall of Fame except for Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and myself."
Most consider Clemens and Johnson shoo-ins when their times arrive, but Blyleven's omission from the gates of Cooperstown frustrates the former right-hander who possessed one of baseball's all-time best curveballs.
Blyleven believes pitching in small-market cities during his 23-year career must be the reason he has been continuously left out.
"I always say, "Put Derek Jeter in Detroit, would he be Derek Jeter?"' Blyleven said of the Yankees shortstop.
