Wikipedia

Tommy Boggs

For persons of a similar name, see Thomas Boggs (disambiguation).

Thomas Winton Boggs (October 25, 1955 – October 5, 2022) was an American professional baseball player and college baseball coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers (1976–1977, 1985) and the Atlanta Braves (1978–1983).

Tommy Boggs
Boggs in 1978
Pitcher
Born: (1955-10-25)October 25, 1955
Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
Died: October 5, 2022(2022-10-05) (aged 66)
Salado, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 19, 1976, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
May 7, 1985, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record20–44
Earned run average4.22
Strikeouts278
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Playing career

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Boggs attended Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. In 1974, his senior year, he was named his district's player of the year as he pitched to a 0.73 earned run average (ERA).[1][2][3]

The Texas Rangers selected Boggs in the first round, with the second overall pick, in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his major league debut with the Rangers on July 19, 1976.[4]

Boggs was traded to the Atlanta Braves on December 8, 1977, in the first four-team trade in MLB history, which also involved the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and a total of eleven players changing teams. The Rangers sent Boggs, Adrian Devine, and Eddie Miller to the Braves. The Rangers received Al Oliver and Nelson Norman from the Pirates and Jon Matlack from the Mets. The Pirates acquired Bert Blyleven from the Rangers and John Milner from the Mets. The Mets got from the Braves Willie Montañez and from the Rangers Tom Grieve and Ken Henderson who was sent to New York to complete the transaction three months later on March 15, 1978[5][6]

Boggs suffered from a recurring rotator cuff injury during the 1982 and 1983 seasons.[7] After the 1983 season, the Braves gave Boggs his unconditional release.[8] Boggs signed a minor league contract with the Rangers in 1984.[9][10] He spent the 1984 season in the minor leagues and won a roster spot with the Rangers Opening Day of the 1985 season. The Rangers sent Boggs to the minor leagues on May 12.[11]

Coaching career

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Concordia University Texas hired Boggs as their head baseball coach on May 14, 2009.[12] He won his 300th game in March 2020,[13] and led the Concordia Tornadoes to 325 wins in 13 seasons.[14]

Personal life

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Boggs was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. His grandparents took him to baseball games at Yankee Stadium.[15]

Boggs and his wife, Suzette, had two children.[16]

In December 1983, Boggs was indicted for gambling, a misdemeanor charge, along with 22 other people involved in a gambling ring in DeKalb County, Georgia.[17] The criminal charge delayed the completion of his contract with the Rangers the following year.[18] He pled guilty and was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and one year of probation.[19]

Boggs died from cancer on October 5, 2022, at age 66.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "5 Jun 1974, 31 – Austin American-Statesman at". Newspapers.com. June 5, 1974. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "6 Jun 1974, Page 13 – Pampa Daily News at". Newspapers.com. June 6, 1974. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "9 Jun 1974, 46 – Austin American-Statesman at". Newspapers.com. June 9, 1974. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "19 Jul 1976, Page 8 – Irving Daily News at". Newspapers.com. July 19, 1976. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Matlack, Milner Go In Four‐Team Trade," The New York Times, Friday, December 9, 1977. Archived June 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 30, 2020
  6. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Mets Get Ken Henderson, Outfielder, From Rangers," The New York Times, Thursday, March 16, 1978. Archived October 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 30, 2020
  7. ^ "27 Jul 1983, 55 – The Atlanta Constitution at". Newspapers.com. July 27, 1983. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "5 Oct 1983, 55 – The Atlanta Constitution at". Newspapers.com. October 5, 1983. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  9. ^ "31 Jan 1984, 33 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at". Newspapers.com. January 31, 1984. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "10 Mar 1984, 35 – The Atlanta Constitution at". Newspapers.com. March 10, 1984. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "13 May 1985, 59 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at". Newspapers.com. May 13, 1985. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Boyles, Donald J. (May 14, 2009). "Concordia University Texas Hires Tommy Boggs as New Baseball Head Coach". College Baseball Daily. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  13. ^ Ballou, Robert (March 11, 2020). "Tommy Boggs wins 300th game at Concordia". KEYE. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  14. ^ "Concordia University Texas head baseball coach Tommy Boggs dies following battle with cancer". kvue.com. July 30, 2019. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "18 Aug 1976, 43 – The Herald-News at". Newspapers.com. August 18, 1976. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "Austin American-Statesman 22 May 2003, page 34".
  17. ^ "23 Dec 1983, 33 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at". Newspapers.com. December 23, 1983. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  18. ^ "Fort Worth Star-Telegram 20 Feb 1984, page 60". Newspapers.com. February 20, 1984. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  19. ^ German, Beverly (March 3, 1984). "Ex-Brave Boggs gets $1,000 fine, year probation". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 6-C. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Concordia University Texas Head Baseball Coach Tommy Boggs Passes Away". Concordia University Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
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