By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2005
Wade Boggs came home to Tampa Bay to finish his stellar career. Now he's headed to Cooperstown.
Boggs was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame Tuesday in overwheming fashion, named on more than 90 percent of the ballots cast by veteran members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Former Cubs star Ryne Sandberg also was elected.
Boggs was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball history, finishing with a .328 average during an 18-year career with the Red Sox, Yankees and Devil Rays. He won five American League batting titles during 11 seasons in Boston, won a World Series during five seasons in New York, and joined baseball's 3,000-hit club during his two years in Tampa Bay. He finished with 3,010 hits, 23rd on the all-time list.
Boggs is the second Tampa product to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Al Lopez was voted to the Hall in 1977, though mostly for his accomplishments as a manager.
