NittanyFan

December 10th, 2017 at 8:48 PM ^

Now, this was never verified by either Boggs or the Rays owner.  But a lot of folks believed to be true given the nature of both folk.  Anyway, the rumor was: when Boggs signed with Tampa Bay in 1998, there was a "quid pro quo": Boggs would get a little extra $ and Boggs agreed to go into the HoF wearing a Devil Rays hat.

That rumor was out there for years.  When it came time for Boggs' induction, he DID want to go in wearing a Devil Rays hat.  Cooperstown stepped in and said THEY would make the decision. 

He's wearing a Red Sox hat on his plaque.

 

Joined: 12/04/2012

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lilpenny1316

December 11th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^

and that may have taken them over the hump. 

It's highly unlikely based on the Tigers front office post-1987.  I still think they would've made the playoffs in 1988 if they would've paid Kirk Gibson what he was worth.  Instead of finishing one game out, they likely win the division.

Joined: 11/19/2009

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Don

December 10th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^

Absolutely. Any serious list of the best SS-2B double-play combos of all time will have Trammell and Whitaker close to the top of the list.

If they'd played in a major media market like NY, Boston, Chicago, or LA, both of them would have been voted into the Hall years ago.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 10th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^

Buster Olney made a good point, that Tram and Morris were also hurt by the steroid era causing a logjam of those players on the ballot while the writers spent years debating whether or not they should be in, while ignoring everyone from the '80s except a tiny handful of big names.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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