On August 27th, 1999, Hall of Famer Wade Boggs played his final game in the Major Leagues.

In my mid-sixties now, there are times when I feel completely discombobulated by the passing of Time. If you would have asked me just yesterday, I would have said that Wade Boggs probably played his last game 10 or 12 years ago. Not 26 years ago!

Wade Boggs won five Batting Titles and retired with a lifetime Batting Average of .328. He was a hit machine, especially when he was hitting at Boston’s Fenway Park, which he called home for 11 of his 18 season in the Big Leagues. At Fenway, Boggs batted an astonishing .369, using the Green Monster in left like a big ping pong table.

Boggs was a Twins-Killer. In 434 at bats against the Minnesota Twins in his career, he batted .355.

Boggs was one of those hitters that was must-see viewing. If you were at the ballpark and he was at the plate, every eye in the place, including both dugouts and both bullpens were on him. He was a clinic on making contact with a pitch. He did it as well as anyone in the game probably ever has.

Boggs did not hit for power, just 188 home runs in his career. But he did hit a lot of doubles, leading the league in that category a couple of times.. He was such a feared hitter that he led the league in intentionally being walked (IBB) an amazing 6 different seasons. Now that is being feared hitter.

Boggs was born in 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska, the home of the College World Series. Somehow that seems appropriate. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, 20-years ago. Here is the link to his Baseball Reference page. Take a look.