Boston Red Sox to retire No. 26 in honor of HOFer Wade Boggs
The Boston Red Sox announced Monday plans to retire Wade Boggs' uniform number this upcoming season.
The Hall of Famer's number 26 will be retired in a ceremony on May 26, 2016. It will be the 10th number retired by the organization, and will hang on the right field facade of Fenway Park.
"I am so humbled and honored to be among the greatest legends to ever put on a uniform for the amazing city of Boston," said Boggs in a statement released by the Red Sox. "To say that your number will never be worn again is the highest honor an athlete can receive. Thank you."
Boggs has played more games at third base than another player in Red Sox history and his .338 batting average with Boston is second to only Ted Williams.
"Wade Boggs was the best third baseman in Red Sox history and one of the best hitters of his generation," said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. "Whether it was his legendary hand-eye coordination or the discipline of his highly superstitious routine, his ability to hit line drive after line drive was remarkable. We congratulate our first ballot Hall of Famer on this recognition."
During his Red Sox career, Boggs led all major leaguers in batting average (.338), hits (2,098), doubles (422), on-base percentage (.428), and times reaching base safely (3,124), and also topped the American League in walks (1,004) and OPS (.890). While with Boston, he won five batting titles, led the league in on-base percentage six times, earned six Silver Slugger Awards, and recorded at least 200 hits in a franchise-record seven different seasons.
Boggs was an eight-time All-Star during his 11 seasons with the Red Sox -- the most for the team as a third baseman, trailing only Carl Yastrzemski (18) and Williams (17) in franchise history. He started a club-record seven straight All-Star Games from 1986-92.
Boggs' number 26 will be displayed alongside Ted Williams' No. 9, Carl Yastrzemski's No. 8, Bobby Doerr's No. 1, Joe Cronin's No. 4, Johnny Pesky's No. 6, Jim Rice's No. 14, Carlton Fisk's No. 27, Pedro Martinez's No. 45, and Jackie Robinson's No. 42, which is retired throughout Major League Baseball.
In 2005, Boggs was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, wearing a Red Sox cap. The 57-year-old now resides in Tampa, FL.
