Baseball Hall of Famer, former PawSox player Wade Boggs makes first visit to Polar Park
Tina and Keith DelleChiaie of Dudley get a few autographs from Hall of Famer Wade Boggs here at Polar Park.
Tina wore a Boggs jersey that Keith bought over 15 years ago.
“I’m not allowed to wear it again,” Tina said. pic.twitter.com/Ub6lyYlJu9— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 10, 2023
WORCESTER — Tina DelleChiaie wore a vintage Wade Boggs Red Sox jersey to Polar Park Thursday night.
The garb belongs to her husband, Keith.
Yet after Tina received an autograph from Boggs, who took photos and signed memorabilia for over an hour after the WooSox game was postponed due to rain, she could no longer don the Boggs jersey.
“I’m not allowed to wear it again,” said Tina, who lives in Dudley.
Boggs was the second Hall of Famer to visit Polar Park this month as Jim Rice was the Throwback Thursday guest last week before Boggs made his debut at the home of the Worcester Red Sox.
“It’s beautiful,” Boggs said of Polar Park. “Big jumbotron, green grass and a lot different than McCoy (Stadium).”
Until Rusney Castillo hit .319 to lead the International League in 2018, Boggs was the last PawSox player to win the International League batting title when he hit .335 in 1981.
“I led the International League in hitting in ‘81, and I went home,” Boggs said. “I didn’t get called up (to the Red Sox).”
In his first and only other season with Pawtucket in 1980, Boggs hit .306 and lost the batting title by less than a point when he grounded out in his final at-bat of the season. He was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 2011 and was a member of the inaugural PawSox Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
“I enjoyed my time (with the PawSox),” Boggs said. “Joe Morgan and all the guys, and made lasting friendships with all the guys.”
In 1981, Boggs was involved in the longest game in professional baseball history when the PawSox and Rochester Red Wings played in a contest that lasted 33 innings. The first 32 innings were played on April 18 and 19 at McCoy Stadium in Rhode Island, and the final inning was played June 23.
During the extra-inning affair, which included Cal Ripken Jr. playing for the Red Wings, Boggs drove in a tying run in the bottom of the 21st after Rochester scored a run.
“When we got into this game, we didn’t want to lose,” Boggs said. “You get this far, and you’re in the 24th, 25th, 26th innings, you don’t want to be the loser.”
Boggs then spent 11 years in Boston (18 total in the MLB) and was inducted in the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and had his uniform No. 26 retired by the Red Sox in 2016. Boggs’ .338 career batting average with the Red Sox is second only to Ted Williams (.344).
On Thursday, Boggs visited the WooSox clubhouse and met with Christian Arroyo and Bobby Dalbec. The Hall of Famer offered both some words of encouragement — and a little motivation.
“(I) told them that they don’t belong in Triple A, get your rear end back in the big leagues,” Boggs said. “... Pay your dues, do the right thing, put the blinders on and look in the mirror.”
As for Thursday’s rainout at Polar Park, it will be made up as Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader. The twin bill will begin at 4:45 p.m., and the WooSox will be the home team for both seven-inning games.
The postponement from July 2 in Buffalo will not be made up.
The WooSox and Bisons will play single games Saturday and Sunday, at normal start times of 4:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m.
— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Wade Boggs honored at Polar Park despite postponed WooSox game
