1998 Wade Boggs Tampa Bay Devil Rays Home Jersey - Inaugural Season

Sold For:

$1,410

Year:

1998

Auction:

2008 Spring

Lot #:

1414

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Wade Boggs Tampa Bay Devil Rays home jersey dating from the club"™s inaugural 1998 season. The white knit jersey is lettered "Devil Rays" on the front, below which is a representation of a Devil Ray fish. The number "12" appears on the reverse, above which is the name "Boggs." All front appliqués are done in multicolor tackle twill, while all reverse appliqués are done in tricolor tackle twill (purple/white/black). A Tampa Bay Devil Rays "Inaugural Season" patch appears on the left sleeve. A "Russell Athletic 48" label is located on the left front tail. Original and unaltered, the jersey displays moderate wear. A five-time batting champion, Boggs was one of the greatest hitters of his era and his lifetime average of .328 currently ranks thirty-sixth on the all-time list. Boggs played with the Devil Rays for two seasons before retiring in 1999. He batted .280 with 7 home runs and 52 RBI during the club's inaugural 1998 season. Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility. Graded A5 by MEARS (no post-1987 jersey can achieve a higher grade than A5 without additional provenance). This is one of three Wade Boggs 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays home jerseys listed in the MEARS census, all of which are graded A5. LOA from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS. Reserve $300. Estimate $500/$1,000. SOLD FOR $1,410.00