Boggs wears Yankees World Series ring to ceremony for '86 Red Sox
For years, Wade Boggs was persona non grata in Boston, having left the Red Sox after the 1992 campaign to sign with their most hated rival in a move that crushed the goodwill he generated with his .338 batting average and eight All-Star nods over the 11 prior seasons.
On Wednesday, Boggs was finally welcomed back to Boston and was honored in a pregame ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1986 club that won the American League pennant, but certain fans regretted the gesture after seeing what the 57-year-old wore to the festivities.
As he stood on the Fenway infield with his teammates from the '86 club, on the eve of having his No. 26 retired by the Red Sox, Boggs was seen sporting his World Series championship ring he earned with the New York Yankees in 1996. It didn't go over so well on Twitter.
Hey, Wade Boggs, when the #RedSox are honoring you, don't be wearing your Yankees World Series ring.
— NEB (@IbeNEB) May 25, 2016
Wade Boggs wearing his NYY title ring to the '86 team reunion. Classless. Glad JBJ moved past him on the hit streak list. #SoxHomecoming
— Sean (@kanafitz) May 26, 2016
So mad @RedSox are retiring 26 for Wade Boggs. Classless Boggs wears his Yankees ring to Sox ceremony. What a joke! pic.twitter.com/fDB9Su8MEU
— JD Wylkes (@jdwylkes) May 26, 2016
wade boggs wearing his @yankees world series ring while '86 @redsox are being honored is why we'll never let it go, man. #gosawx
— timothy davis (@iamtimothydavis) May 26, 2016
In a recent interview with the Yankees' TV network, though, Boggs explained that he wears his World Series ring every day.
"I'm not one of those guys to put it in a drawer and say that this part of my history is never going to be looked at," Boggs said. "I like sharing it with people. People ask me about it all the time and it has a story. It’s part of my legacy and it will always be there."