I can also off the top of my head name three former Red Sox players who would be more deserving of the honor: Rice, Dwight Evans and Looie Tiant.
The case for Wade to make the Hall of Fame rests on the following accomplishments:
1.) 3,010 career hits—Every player with 3,000 hits is either in the Hall of Fame or not yet eligible (including, of course, all-time hit leader Pete Rose). It is considered a "magic" number. Wade is in 23rd place all time in hits.
2.) .328 career batting average (34th all time)
3.) Twelve All-Star Games
4.) Seven consecutive seasons with at least 200 hits
We'll come back to these numbers, but first, let's compare what Wade Boggs has done vs. the other third basemen who have been elected to the Hall of Fame. To date, 11 third baseman have been elected—the fewest number for any position—although only five have been elected by the Baseball Writers of America. Let's see how Boggs stacks up against these five.
GEORGE BRETT: During his career with Kansas City Brett averaged 19 homers, 95 RBI, a .305 batting average, 95 runs scored and 369 total bases per season. Brett was a 12-time All-Star and also the 1980 AL MVP. Brett was also a top producer in the post season where, in nine series, he hit .337 with 10 home runs.
Sorry, but I would take George Brett over Wade Boggs any day of the week.
EDDIE MATHEWS: Mathews averaged 35 homers, 98 RBI, a .271 batting average and 102 runs scored per season. Matthews hit 512 career home runs and had a career .885 OPS.
Batting average notwithstanding, Boggs doesn't stack up against Eddie Matthews.
BROOKS ROBINSON: During his career with the Orioles, Robinson averaged 15 homers, 76 RBI, a .267 batting average and 69 runs scored per season. Robinson was a 15-time All-Star and a 16-time Gold Glove winner. In 1964, Robinson beat out Mickey Mantle for the AL MVP, and in 1970, he won the World Series MVP.
When you think third base, you think Brooks Robinson and not Wade Boggs. Not even close.
PIE TRAYNOR: During his career, Traynor averaged five homers, 106 RBI, a .320 batting average and 99 runs scored per season. Pie's career ended in 1937 meaning that even though he played in the dead ball era, he still almost matched Boggs average of eight homers per year.
Sorry, Wade. Give me a guy who can average 106 RBI and 99 runs scored over a guy who averaged 67 RBI and 100 runs scored anytime.
MIKE SCHMIDT: During his career, Schmidt averaged 37 homers, 107 RBI, a .267 batting average and 101 runs scored. Mike had a career .907 OPS, was a 12-time All-Star and won 10 Gold Gloves. In addition to his 548 career homers, he also won 3 NL MVP awards (and was in the top 10 in MVP voting 10 times).
Mike Schmidt is widely acknowledged at the best all-around 3rd baseman in history. Wade Boggs wasn't even in the same league (literally—Schmidt played in the NL).
So Boggs would be lowering the bar with his election by the Baseball Writers of America. For those who like to hang their hat on his batting average, consider that of the six we just talked about, Schmidt had the worst batting average but is considered the best player while Wade had the best batting average but would be the least of the third basemen examined.
Now let's take a closer look at those numbers we mentioned at the beginning.
THOSE 3,010 HITS: Very impressive, but consider that 500 home runs has always been a magic number—until recently, when people have been mumbling about Fred McGriff not deserving Hall of Fame election if he gets to 500 homers. Why McGriff and not Boggs? I mean, in the history of baseball there have been more hitters with 3,000 hits than 500 homers yet people want to discount 500 homers?
Lee Smith is the all-time leader for saves with 478 and yet people rightly discount that number because Smith wasn't the impact pitcher of, say, a Dennis Eckersley. The same is true of Wade Boggs vs., say, Jim Rice, but the same people who refuse to vote for Lee Smith are somehow enamored with Boggs and his meaningless slap singles.
Let's take a closer look at those 3,010 hits. The only person who got fewer bases out of their 3,000 hits than Boggs was fellow slap singles hitter Rod Carew. Keep in mind that Fred McGriff is in 43rd place for total bases all-time while Boggs is only in 59th. Jim Rice and Dwight Evans had many more total bases than Boggs and yet Boggs is the one who will probably go into the Hall of Fame.
THAT .328 CAREER BATTING AVERAGE: Ten people ahead of Boggs have better batting averages but yet are not in the Hall of Fame. Sure, those 10 include the suspended-for-life Joe Jackson and the still-active Todd Helton, but it is proof that a high batting average is not a guarantee of election.
THOSE 12 ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES: At first glance this looks impressive, but keep in mind that there wasn't much competition for Boggs during this time. Scott Cooper, his replacement in Boston even made the team twice, in 1993 and 1994 (take a look at his numbers those years for a good laugh).
THOSE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH AT LEAST 200 HITS: Ted Williams never had a 200 hit season. Would anyone ever suggest that Boggs was a better hitter? Truth is most of Boggs' hits were slap singles. Sure he was good at making contact but is that justification for Hall of Fame induction? I don't think so.
I concede Boggs will probably get elected on his first ballot but please consider the following:
--Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly came into the league in the same year. If at any point in his career Mattingly was offered to the Red Sox straight up for Boggs, the Sox would make that deal in a heartbeat. Don Mattingly will not get into the Hall of Fame but Wade Boggs will.
--Robin Ventura had 176 more HR, 168 more RBI, and four more Gold Gloves than Boggs (in two fewer seasons). It can be argued that Ventura was a much better player than Boggs and personally I would rather have had Ventura.
The very fact that this can legitimately be argued should make you question Boggs’ worthiness for induction.
--Dwight Evans and Jim Rice were always considered more valuable to their Red Sox teams than Boggs ever was. Both finished with way more total bases than Boggs but yet neither will make the Hall of Fame while Boggs probably does.
Wade Boggs is the definition of paper great. Now I know that Boggs will probably get in, simply based upon the 3,000 hits, but to me he simply wasn't anything special. You would be surprised how many fans in Boston who had the best chance to see him play feel the same way.
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