Wade Boggs - My Experience

[boggs3010@gmail.com]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

I also like the fact Wade is sporting his Devil Rays BP jacket.

Any one have the picture of Wade in His Devil Rays BP jacket?

I just bought this jacket a few weeks ago and would like a copy of the picture.


James

[Phil316]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Boggs was doing the "I have everything" routine as far back as the 1980s. I twice saw people in the stands at Comiskey Park ask him to sign their game-used jerseys. Boggs wouldn't even come over, instead asking the fan what year the jersey was from. You could reply 1982, 1984, 1986, 1,000,000 years BC, and it wouldn't matter. Without ever examining the jersey close-up, he'd respond "that can't be real; I have all mine from that year". Personally, I take his claims of exclusive ownership about as seriously as I take the claim that two low-level minions in Cincinnati were the brains behind the recent IRS scandal.

Dave Miedema

A+ love it

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Boggs was doing the "I have everything" routine as far back as the 1980s. I twice saw people in the stands at Comiskey Park ask him to sign their game-used jerseys. Boggs wouldn't even come over, instead asking the fan what year the jersey was from. You could reply 1982, 1984, 1986, 1,000,000 years BC, and it wouldn't matter. Without ever examining the jersey close-up, he'd respond "that can't be real; I have all mine from that year". Personally, I take his claims of exclusive ownership about as seriously as I take the claim that two low-level minions in Cincinnati were the brains behind the recent IRS scandal.

Dave Miedema

[Nnunnari]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

David-
Check with celebzdirect.com, they had a few Devil Ray bats available last time I checked.

[camarokids]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

I don't think he is hurting, he just has a massive amount of stuff that he kept, and he is cleaning out some closets.

Do you talk to him often? I would like to get a Devil Rays bat from him. I already have one.

[emann]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

I think this is very probable and logical. I think it would also be a fair statement to say that only the Equipment Managers really know how many jerseys a player had, as they most likely were responsible for placing jersey orders.

Right. I'd imagine that the equipment managers were the ones in the real know. The Sox in particular apparently had a good amount of unseemly things going on during that era, it wouldn't shock me if equipment theft by employees was commonplace.

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack your posting—it is a great pick-up... Congrats!

[TwinLakesPark]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

My assumption is that Wade hung onto 2 gamers every season throughout his career, but they probably were not the only ones he had in his locker. Even if some clubbie assured him they were, I'd guess a few "walked" out the door of the clubhouse, were given to charity, etc and were replaced (probably without his knowledge) over the decades. He's not the first player to tell collectors that he held onto all his gamers...

I think this is very probable and logical. I think it would also be a fair statement to say that only the Equipment Managers really know how many jerseys a player had, as they most likely were responsible for placing jersey orders.

[70to66]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

That must have been a day you will never forget!

[sportscentury]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Nice story, amazing jersey and Wade Boggs was my all time favorite player growing up.

That said...

The story of Wade holding onto all of his jerseys is one he also told me at a convention when presented with a jersey I own, one which has a pretty unique feature to it.

Wade barely looked at it and said "Sorry, I have both of these hanging in my closet." I replied this couldn't be true and pointed out the features, etc... To his credit, he gave it a longer look and basically said it looked very close but explained "they gave me two jerseys each year and I kept them every season."

I was crushed and went home upset that I might have been ripped off from the (well-known, reputable, and respected by GUU) dealer that I purchased the jersey from... I've handled a number of other jerseys from this era (as has the dealer) and it had all the little signs of game use and being issued from the team. The dealer offered an immediate refund, but echoed my thought that his experience was this jersey was genuine.

I asked a few other collectors/dealers for opinions (and they all said they thought it was probably ok), so I went with my gut and decided to keep the jersey. My goal for a solid year was to figure out the story of the jersey (and it's identifying feature). Do you know how many photos/cards/magazines of Wade Boggs from the '80s are out there to look thru?

After a year of furious searching, I found a relatively obscure magazine photo that looked promising. I contacted the original photographer and he was able to pull and scan his original negative for me. He confirmed the date of the game and location from the person who took the photo. I had a match... I also think I identified other photos from the prior week after I found the date (they're too far away to confirm 100%). That's it—the identifying feature on my jersey isn't in any other images I've seen.

This unique feature on the jersey I own is not going to be on either of the ones Wade has in his closet. But, I do have a photo of him standing there wearing this jersey in a game during the correct season... I've considered over the years bringing this jersey with the photo back to Wade, but I really don't want to get into an argument with one of my sports idols.

My assumption is that Wade hung onto 2 gamers every season throughout his career, but they probably were not the only ones he had in his locker. Even if some clubbie assured him they were, I'd guess a few "walked" out the door of the clubhouse, were given to charity, etc and were replaced (probably without his knowledge) over the decades. He's not the first player to tell collectors that he held onto all his gamers...

I have no doubt that anything hanging in Wade's closet is top-notch and you got an amazing piece from his collection. But for him to flatly state anything outside his closet could not possibly be real seems impossible in my opinion. It also isn't fair to collectors who didn't buy their jerseys from him directly but might just actually have the real thing. There probably are alot of fakes out there, but I'd wager there are a few real ones sprinkled in...

Many false negatives, as well as false positives, have originated with players. We all know there are players who will add a "game used" inscription to anything a hobbyist puts in front of them, even when the item is bad (false positive). But there are also players who flatly reject anything and everything that is placed in front of them, despite some of the items being real/authentic (false negative). Some players mistakenly believe that they own all of their game used items, which is, of course, impossible. Other players knowingly reject good items because it does not sit well with them that other individuals possess their game used items (and thus have the potential to make money on them). A player's word is but one factor to consider when evaluating and authenticating an item.

[emann]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Nice story, amazing jersey and Wade Boggs was my all time favorite player growing up.

That said...

The story of Wade holding onto all of his jerseys is one he also told me at a convention when presented with a jersey I own, one which has a pretty unique feature to it.

Wade barely looked at it and said "Sorry, I have both of these hanging in my closet." I replied this couldn't be true and pointed out the features, etc... To his credit, he gave it a longer look and basically said it looked very close but explained "they gave me two jerseys each year and I kept them every season."

I was crushed and went home upset that I might have been ripped off from the (well-known, reputable, and respected by GUU) dealer that I purchased the jersey from... I've handled a number of other jerseys from this era (as has the dealer) and it had all the little signs of game use and being issued from the team. The dealer offered an immediate refund, but echoed my thought that his experience was this jersey was genuine.

I asked a few other collectors/dealers for opinions (and they all said they thought it was probably ok), so I went with my gut and decided to keep the jersey. My goal for a solid year was to figure out the story of the jersey (and it's identifying feature). Do you know how many photos/cards/magazines of Wade Boggs from the '80s are out there to look thru?

After a year of furious searching, I found a relatively obscure magazine photo that looked promising. I contacted the original photographer and he was able to pull and scan his original negative for me. He confirmed the date of the game and location from the person who took the photo. I had a match... I also think I identified other photos from the prior week after I found the date (they're too far away to confirm 100%). That's it—the identifying feature on my jersey isn't in any other images I've seen.

This unique feature on the jersey I own is not going to be on either of the ones Wade has in his closet. But, I do have a photo of him standing there wearing this jersey in a game during the correct season... I've considered over the years bringing this jersey with the photo back to Wade, but I really don't want to get into an argument with one of my sports idols.

My assumption is that Wade hung onto 2 gamers every season throughout his career, but they probably were not the only ones he had in his locker. Even if some clubbie assured him they were, I'd guess a few "walked" out the door of the clubhouse, were given to charity, etc and were replaced (probably without his knowledge) over the decades. He's not the first player to tell collectors that he held onto all his gamers...

I have no doubt that anything hanging in Wade's closet is top-notch and you got an amazing piece from his collection. But for him to flatly state anything outside his closet could not possibly be real seems impossible in my opinion. It also isn't fair to collectors who didn't buy their jerseys from him directly but might just actually have the real thing. There probably are alot of fakes out there, but I'd wager there are a few real ones sprinkled in...

[TwinLakesPark]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

What a great experience, thanks for sharing and congrats on the great piece! How much stuff did he end up holding onto?
I picked up one of his '92 All-Star bats, waiting for it to arrive.

He held on to everything, and I mean everything. He kept every one of his jerseys, with the exception of the ones that the Yankees kept. I held those 92' All-Star bats that day, they are really nice!

TwinLakesPark -- I see you don't accept PMs. Would you consider turning PMs on so I can ask a quick question? Thanks

Send me an email, wesholden at gmail dot com

Is Boggs hurting for money? He recently sold some Devil Rays bats at auction.

I don't think he is hurting, he just has a massive amount of stuff that he kept, and he is cleaning out some closets.

[camarokids]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Is Boggs hurting for money? He recently sold some Devil Rays bats at auction.

[Phil316]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

I also like the fact Wade is sporting his Devil Rays BP jacket.

[Phil316]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

Sounds like a fun time.

[icollectDCsports]

Re: Wade Boggs - My Experience

TwinLakesPark -- I see you don't accept PMs. Would you consider turning PMs on so I can ask a quick question? Thanks