Baseball legend Wade Boggs, renowned for his stellar 18-year Major League Baseball career, has revealed his latest and most personal battle: a fight against prostate cancer. The 12-time All-Star and World Series champion took to social media on Saturday to share the diagnosis, giving fans a glimpse into his current challenge.
“I’ve never been a goal-oriented person, but with the strength and support of my family and my faith in God, I’m going to ring that damn bell,” Boggs wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside a photo of a prostate cancer guide. His words reflect the fighter’s spirit that propelled him to the top of baseball’s elite, and now it fuels him in this new, personal fight.
At 66 years old, Boggs is widely regarded as one of the best pure hitters in baseball history. His career spanned three teams: the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Known for his precision at the plate, Boggs won five batting titles during his time with the Red Sox and received American League MVP votes nine times. Though he made his mark in Boston, it was with the Yankees that he achieved the pinnacle of baseball glory, winning the World Series in 1996.
In that 1996 season, Boggs batted .311, scored 80 runs, and earned his final All-Star appearance. During the World Series, Boggs contributed crucial plays, going 3-for-11 with two RBIs as the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves in six games. It marked the beginning of a dynastic run for the team.
Boggs finished his illustrious career with 3,010 hits, joining the exclusive 3,000-hit club. His lifetime batting average of 0.328, coupled with 118 home runs, cements his place in baseball history. In 2005, Boggs was rightfully inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Now, the man who battled pitchers with precision and skill must focus on a different kind of battle. With his family’s support and his faith in God, Wade Boggs is ready to face this challenge with the same determination that made him a baseball icon.