To make it worse, he didn't have a bat in his hand. Only a few pieces of paper containing a much-anticipated speech. In an attempt to psych himself up, Boggs stared into the hotel room mirror the way he used to lock in on the pitcher.

"Come on, you've got one last at-bat," Boggs said to his reflection. "Let's go."

The pep talk and large contingent of family and friends who made the trip from Tampa helped calm him to a degree, but Boggs was still a bundle of nerves when he arrived for Sunday's Hall of Fame induction speech.

As he mingled with the largest collection of Hall of Famers ever gathered in one spot -- 52 of the 62 living members were in Cooperstown over the weekend -- Boggs joked that he would just as soon go play a game of H-O-R-S-E.

But after all those who had faced the same doubts in past years were introduced, Boggs and fellow inductee Ryne Sandberg finally made their entrance. Boggs squirmed in his seat as Padres announcer Jerry Coleman and ESPN reporter Peter Gammons gave their speeches.

Finally, after 3,010 career hits, five batting titles and two Gold Gloves in a career that started in Boston, moved to New York and closed at home in Tampa Bay, Boggs took his place at the podium once Commissioner Bud Selig finished reading the words that grace Boggs' new plaque in the Hall of Fame.

"I stand here today incredibly humbled, extremely overwhelmed and very proud," Boggs said. In the ensuing 12 minutes, 29 seconds, more than 10 minutes shorter than Sandberg's speech, Boggs became emotional at times, but never to the point where he completely broke down.

However, Boggs came close when talking about his wife, Debbie, and his parents, Win and Sue.

"Daddy, I wouldn't be up here without you," Boggs said as he motioned toward Win. "I owe everything to you, my mentor, my idol. Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.…You taught me the game and you taught me how to play it right."

Win Boggs was his son's Little League coach and worked countless hours to help Boggs develop his swing. A reminder of that past was on hand Sunday. When Boggs started to make his speech, some of his former teammates stretched out a banner that read, "Way To Go Wade. Bayshore Little League. Royal Buick Wildcats."

With Debbie sitting in the first row next to daughter Meagan and son Brett, Boggs made sure to pay tribute to the woman he married when he was 18 and has been with ever since, through the ups and downs of life and a baseball career.

"Honey, you're my rock, my best friend," Boggs said. "I love you. You're so special." And of course, he thanked her for cooking all that chicken that made Boggs' superstitious nature famous.

Then, in the moment that most expected the emotional Boggs to struggle with, he remembered his mother, Sue, who was killed in a car wreck in 1986.

"There's one person that's not here," Boggs said. "She should be, but she's here in spirit. She was the rock of the family. Mom, I love you. I miss you. I wish you were here."

As Boggs struggled to contain his emotions when talking about his mother, so did many in the crowd. Afterward, Boggs said he believed his mom was on hand to help him get through the speech.

"It was nerve-wracking," he said. "To tell you the truth, I don't know how I did it. I think my mother was speaking through me to get me through everything. I'm just glad I didn't break down. Once I started, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish."

Debbie was proud her husband was able to get through something so difficult.

"I thought it was wonderful," she said.

Boggs questioned whether he would be able to finish the speech up to the time it started.

"I was overwhelmed by the sea of so many people to come and share this day with me," Boggs said. "I wanted to get through it and finish it."

The crowd included teammates of Boggs' from Plant High, Devil Rays owner Vince Naimoli, Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky and so many others who had an impact on Boggs' way to Cooperstown.

Boggs said he was most happy to finish the speech for Win's sake.

"He's like a little kid in a candy store right now," Boggs said. "He's having so much fun. This day is for him because he taught me how to play the game. He coached me in Little League. I was just happy to see him."

Sandberg followed Boggs with an excellent 23-minute speech that focused on respecting the game and playing the game right.

"This day was incredible," Sandberg said.

The fact Boggs finished his speech made it more so.