`I just kept telling (then Boston scouting director) Haywood Sullivan, `Draft Boggs somewhere. Hitters like him don't come along often.` - Former Red Sox scout George Digby.

`I know I wasn't any Brooks Robinson (defensively). But I was also 20, 21-years-old. It's as if you're tagged `prospect' or `non-prospect' by some people and it's written in stone. But that's just someone's opinion and it doesn't take into consideration the player's dedication to improving himself.` - Boggs, 1982, as he broke into the big leagues.

`When the bases were loaded and a single to win was needed, I would go into the Pete Rose crouch and hit the ball the opposite way. But mostly, I was Reggie Jackson. I used all his mannerisms. When I would hit it out to win the whole thing. I'd watch it all the way, dropping the bat and trotting around the bases like Reggie.` - Boggs in 1983, reflecting on his days in sandlot baseball.

`For him to swing for home runs now would be a mistake. They'll come with maturity. Even if Wade stays the same, who cares if he hits home runs.` - Red Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak, 1983.

`Almost every hitter has a routine as he gets into the box. Pete Rose. George Foster. Carlton Fisk. Yaz. Mine has evolved from Little League on through the minors, part by design, part born of superstition, but mine's the same as theirs - only it takes a little more than 5 1/2 hours.` - Boggs, 1984.

`Wade Boggs can hit .330 with 20 homers every year. I'm still trying to figure out how I could hit .300 one year, .390 the next and .290 another. Not only that, but he's a vastly underrated defensive third baseman. He's a lot better than I am. I mean that. People who don't know the position don't appreciate him.` - Royals third baseman George Brett, 1985.

`Boggs may have the best hand-eye coordination of anyone I've ever seen.` - Ted Williams, 1985.

`Wade Boggs can hit as good as anybody ... he's the one I'd say has the potential to do it.` - Reds manager Pete Rose, 1985, asked if a current player could break his all-time m.aspx?c=tbonline&page=mlb/teams/056/roster.aspx?team=056" alt="Roster">

`I just kept telling (then Boston scouting director) Haywood Sullivan, `Draft Boggs somewhere. Hitters like him don't come along often.` - Former Red Sox scout George Digby.

`I know I wasn't any Brooks Robinson (defensively). But I was also 20, 21-years-old. It's as if you're tagged `prospect' or `non-prospect' by some people and it's written in stone. But that's just someone's opinion and it doesn't take into consideration the player's dedication to improving himself.` - Boggs, 1982, as he broke into the big leagues.

`When the bases were loaded and a single to win was needed, I would go into the Pete Rose crouch and hit the ball the opposite way. But mostly, I was Reggie Jackson. I used all his mannerisms. When I would hit it out to win the whole thing. I'd watch it all the way, dropping the bat and trotting around the bases like Reggie.` - Boggs in 1983, reflecting on his days in sandlot baseball.

`For him to swing for home runs now would be a mistake. They'll come with maturity. Even if Wade stays the same, who cares if he hits home runs.` - Red Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak, 1983.

`Almost every hitter has a routine as he gets into the box. Pete Rose. George Foster. Carlton Fisk. Yaz. Mine has evolved from Little League on through the minors, part by design, part born of superstition, but mine's the same as theirs - only it takes a little more than 5 1/2 hours.` - Boggs, 1984.

`Wade Boggs can hit .330 with 20 homers every year. I'm still trying to figure out how I could hit .300 one year, .390 the next and .290 another. Not only that, but he's a vastly underrated defensive third baseman. He's a lot better than I am. I mean that. People who don't know the position don't appreciate him.` - Royals third baseman George Brett, 1985.

`Boggs may have the best hand-eye coordination of anyone I've ever seen.` - Ted Williams, 1985.

`Wade Boggs can hit as good as anybody ... he's the one I'd say has the potential to do it.` - Reds manager Pete Rose, 1985, asked if a current player could break his all-time hits record.

`I don't play (cards in the clubhouse). It's wasted concentration.` - Boggs, 1986.

`One minute, we were the world champions. We were one strike away. Blink your eyes, and we're back at the team hotel, thinking about playing a Game 7. And you're thinking, `Hey, what happened?' ` - Boggs, reflecting on the 1986 World Series.

`He concentrates on every pitch better. He follows it all the way to the glove. He concentrates every day. There are days when you think you are concentrating, but you're not. I don't think Wade has those days.` - Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, 1987.

`Rod Carew never received the recognition he really deserved. But he once told me something that I live by: `For people you know, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none is possible.' I know Wade Boggs, and I appreciate him very much.' - Boggs, 1988.

`I used to tell my pitchers I could get them two strikes on Boggs easy, but from then on they were on their own. There's no doubt in my mind that he is the best two-strike hitter in history.` - Former manager Rene Lachemann, 1988.

`I know I have an inner drive to succeed, and I think that's what you have to have. Ali had it. So does Gretzky. And my father always taught me never to give up and always work hard.` - Boggs, 1989.

`I've lined out so many times that if I wanted to go to Chattahoochee right now and check in and get the little white men to carry me off, I could have done that a long time ago.` - Boggs, 1990, after hitting .302 and seeing his AL batting-title streak end at four.

`My services were no longer required in Boston ... now it's nice to be with an organization so rich in tradition.` - Boggs, 1992, after the Red Sox opted not to re-sign him. He then signed with the rival New York Yankees.

`Whoever told Wade Boggs he couldn't hit must have been the same person who told Barbra Streisand she couldn't sing.` - Yankees manager Joe Torre, 1996.

`It was an E-ticket ride at Disney World right there, brother. I don't know what possessed me to get up on that horse because I'm deathly afraid of horses.` - Boggs, 1996, after riding bareback behind a police officer during the celebration when New York won the World Series.

`I'm home.` - Boggs, 1997, after signing with the expansion Devil Rays.