Boggs bits

By Eric Wilbur

September 30, 2005

1 minute to read

After tossing tonight’s ceremonial first pitch, former Red Sox legend Wade Boggs met with the media. Wearing his Hall of Fame ring and Red Sox home jersey, Boggs, touched on a number of topics:

–When asked about witnessing the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry from both sides, Boggs reminded that it certainly wasn’t that healthy during his time in Boston. “Our rival was the Toronto Blue Jays,” he said. “The Yankees were last. We weren’t worried about them. They were a blip on the radar screen.”

Boggs said it was once he left New York following the 1997 season that the rivalry started up again. And now? “It’s a rip-roaring force fire now,” he said.

— After tossing out the first pitch, Boggs screamed “Go Sox” to the Fenway Faithful. So, is he rooting for Boston? “I root for whoever is behind,” he said. “I never lose.”

Asked if he would have shouted the same thing if he were at Yankee Stadium, Boggs said, “We’ll never know.”

— After wandering around his old ball field, Boggs said he was most impressed with the addition of the Green Monster seats. “Last time I was here you could hit balls into a net,” he said.

— Boggs insists he could have played another three years (the Devil Rays did not pick up his option following the 1999 season) but did not want to deal with the hassle of negotiating a contract or moving his family out west from their home in Tampa. “I was spoiled at home,” he said.

As for the Devil Rays, does Boggs think the team can survive in Tampa? Only if they build a new stadium with a retractable roof down by the waterfront. “It’ll be a party,” he said. “42,000 every night.”