Wade Boggs: Hall of Fame 2005

Players' lack of hustle disturbs Boggs

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 1, 2005

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Wade Boggs stayed away from controversy and criticisms in his 13-minute Hall of Fame induction speech.

But after listening to fellow inductee Ryne Sandberg blast the current players for their lack of respect for the game, Boggs eagerly joined in during a news conference afterward.

"I think that when you watch a major-league baseball game and when you see a guy not run out a ball or loaf after a ball and not go first to third or second to home because he's just trotting or something like that, it's disturbing to see that," Boggs said.

"I played the game one way. I gave it everything I have. It doesn't take any ability to hustle. I learned how to play the game from Pete Rose . Watching him play all those games and watching him on TV and do the things he did inspired me to play the game at that level.

"I felt that if I disrespected the game by not hustling and not giving everything I had to give. It was a circumstance of cheating the fans. You're cheating the fans. You're cheating your teammates, and you're disrespecting the name on the front of your jersey."

Boggs said the problem seems to start early.

"I guess they don't know any better," he said. "They were never taught that this is how you play the game. When I retired, I always said I was one of the last old-school guys. Nowadays it's fashionable not to hustle. I just don't understand it. I really don't."

RAYS PERSPECTIVE: Managing general partner Vince Naimoli couldn't mask his excitement about Boggs and said he had no problem with him going into the Hall with a Red Sox cap.

"He should go in as a Red Sox. I'm all for that," Naimoli said. "He was with us. He gave us what probably was the most special moment that we've ever had with his 3,000th hit. I still get emotional when I watch that clip. So he was a valuable Devil Ray, but he was a terrific Red Sox. And that's how he earned the Hall of Fame."

Rays public relations vice president Rick Vaughn also was in attendance.

OLD FRIENDS: Boggs had some kind words for Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer , who was a coach during Boggs' time with the Yankees.

"Zim is a class act," Boggs said. "He is so knowledgeable about the game. I think he's been in the game for something like 60 or 65 years. It's been a long time. Seeing Zim's smiling face every day when you walk through the clubhouse door, it lifts you up. He can be cantankerous at times and ornery, but Zim's a great guy."

MISSING: Hall of Fame officials were ecstatic to have 48 of the 60 living members on hand. Missing were Tampa's Al Lopez along with Hank Aaron , Luis Aparicio , Ernie Banks , Joe Morgan , Phil Rizzuto , Frank Robinson , Nolan Ryan Carl Yastrzemski and Robin Yount . Jim Palmer and Mike Schmidt were in Cooperstown for the other activities but left before Sunday's ceremony.

NUMBERS GAME: ESPN's Peter Gammons , who was inducted into the writers wing, said he believes Boggs deserves another honor.

"Maybe this will be rectified, but one of the things that shocks me is that his number isn't being retired next week at Fenway Park," Gammons said.

CELEBRITY WATCH: Among those spotted were Hall of Famers from two other arenas. There was country great Charley Pride , a former Negro League and minor-league ballplayer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Pride was a guest of a Hall of Fame executive from Cooperstown.

Then there was former Bills coach Marv Levy , a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And actor Bill Murray - a comedy hall of famer if ever there was one - gave several standing ovations throughout the ceremony while seated in the Sandberg section.

KIDS' CORNER: Meagann Boggs felt the tension growing the night before her father's speech.

"My dad and I were at the hotel, and he was just looking at me and saying, "I love you so much,"' she said. "And I'm like, "Don't even start! I'm not going to able to make it."'

So how did she feel about her father's big moment?

"It's hard to put into words. Growing up, I always saw my dad as anybody else who had a father who had a business job. And then I was finally in high school when I actually saw him on TV one time, and I was just in awe. It really hit me; like, "Oh, my God, my dad is on TV and people are cheering and everybody is watching.' Now that all this is going on and just to see Yogi Berra and people like that, it's like my dad actually made it. All his hard work paid off, and he deserves it."

Added her brother, Brett : "I knew he'd be here. He's among all the great ones now."

BIG CROWD: The crowd of 28,000 was the third highest for a Hall of Fame induction ceremony, behind only the 50,000 in 1999 (George Brett , Orlando Cepeda , Ryan and Robin Yount among others) and 40,000 in 1995 (when Phillies fans arrived in droves for Schmidt's induction).

MEDIA INDUCTEES: Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman and Gammons also were honored. Coleman, once a standout second baseman for the Yankees, earned the Ford C. Frick Award, given for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. Gammons received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for his baseball writing and broadcasting for the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

[Last modified August 1, 2005, 01:19:35]