0207 - Richard Davis
Richard Davis is a Wade Boggs Super Collector whose Boggs Tavern houses one of the biggest Wade Boggs collections in the world. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Richard Davis and me (and Wade) after recording our interview in the Boggs Tavern.
Part of Richard’s award-winning Wade Boggs collection
2020 Man Cave Of The Year
Richard won the 2020 Man Cave Of The Year Award from ManCaveSite.org, who has been giving out the award every year since 2009.
Trophy
This is the trophy Richard won for his Wade Boggs collection from the people at ManCaveSite.org.
1983 Donruss Rookie Card
This is the card that started it all for Richard.
Some Wade Boggs highlights for you to enjoy, as Richard would want you to.
1986 World Series
Richard’s favorite photo of Wade Boggs is a gut-wrenching one. It’s of Wade, sitting in the dugout after the heartbreaking loss to the Mets in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, reflecting on the end of the season during which he lost his mother in a car accident.
Comiskey Park
Richard was a Cubs fan, but if he wanted to see his favorite player in person, he would have to go to White Sox games at Comiskey Park since Wade played in the American League.
Great Defense
While Wade was definitely better known for his bat, he did win two Gold Glove Awards during his career, as well.
May 1986 Beckett
This is most likely the first non-card Wade Boggs piece that Richard actively purchased for his collection. Wade’s first appearance on the cover of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.
Jan / Feb 1987 Beckett
Wade graced the cover of Beckett twice during his career, both of which happened within the span of 10 months.
All In From Day One
Only a true collector could look at this room and think “you know, I could go for some more stuff…”
Game Used Yankees Jersey
One of the few things Richard doesn’t have is a game used jersey from Wade’s time as a Yankee. This one is from 1995, as you can tell from the Mickey Mantle tributes on the sleeve.
A Decades-long Pursuit
You don’t just accidentally accumulate this much stuff. Richard has been collecting for over 35 years, and while it doesn’t all fit on the showroom floor, he has found really cool ways to display the vast majority of it.
Fans Helping Richard
Gary Mills, who follows Richard on twitter, sent Richard his boyhood drawing of Wade Boggs because he knew it belonged in the Boggs Tavern.
Obscure Items
Richard has hunted down some items that are pretty hard to come by. But that’s what happens when you’ve been searching for decades.
Maintaining His Own Identity
While he may be known online as “The Wade Boggs Guy,” Richard still has a normal family life with a wife and kids, and has a job where he’s just Rich.
Slides
Richard made a connection with an eBay seller who had a stockpile of old slides and negatives. The Boggs-related ones, as you can imagine, are now in Richard’s collection.
Connections
One of the great things about collecting is that you never know where you’ll make a great connection. Richard won an eBay auction for these game-used cleats from a seller who represented Wade, which has led to many more great items and interactions for Richard.
1998 Game Worn Jersey
Another piece Richard acquired thanks to a great connection.
Wade’s Biggest Fan
It’s official. If Wade wrote it in the inscription, it must be true.
Red Sox Shower Shoes
If Wade Boggs used it, wore it, touched it, endorsed it, or breathed on it… Richard wants it.
1985 Game Worn Red Sox Jersey
An incredible piece in any collection, but particularly special for Richard.
Autographed
Not only did Wade sign the ‘85 gamer for Richard, they were speaking on the phone with one another as Wade signed it. What an incredible moment that must have been.
Cards
Richard literally has thousands of Wade Boggs cards. It’s hard to show them all off, but here’s a cool display with a bunch of them.
Rookie Cards
Okay. Actually look at this photo. It’s hundreds and hundreds of Wade’s rookie cards. The top shelf is his 1983 Topps card (notice the stacks behind the 4 front-facing cards), and the bottom shelf is the 1983 Donruss card. Insanity. I love it.
1984 Topps
Richard’s favorite Wade Boggs card is the 1984 Topps. He has over 800 copies of it.
1987 Topps All-Star
The card Richard has the most of in his collection is this 1987 Topps All-Star edition. He has more than 1,000 copies of it.
This is going to be Richard when he finally gets his 1,000th 1983 Topps Wade Boggs Rookie Card
The Hobbby
Wade Boggs has had more baseball cards released in his retirement than he ever had while he was playing.
Ted Williams 1941 Play Ball
This 1941 Play Ball is one of the most popular Ted Williams cards, mainly because it commemorates the 1941 season during which he hit an amazing .406.
1985 Red Sox Gamer
The details of the jock tags on Richard’s favorite Wade Boggs jersey.
Tim Murnane Benefit Game
Ray Chapman, Rabbit Maranville, Ty Cobb, and Shoeless Joe Jackson before playing in one of the first unofficial All-Star Games in 1917. The two men on the right have two of the three highest career batting averages in history.
Hit #2,988
Signed and dated by Wade. Richard’s favorite baseball in his collection.
5/26/16 Red Sox Jersey Retirement
Wade Boggs became the 9th player in Red Sox history to have his number retired, joining Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, and Pedro Martinez on Fenway's right field facade. This is a ball Richard has which was used during the game in which the Red Sox held the ceremony.
Louisville Slugger B349
In the early 90s, Boggs almost exclusively used Louisville Slugger B349 bats. He used these with the Red Sox and the Yankees, as well as with the Devil Rays.
B349 Red Sox bats are very tough to find, as the only models with BOSTON RED SOX on the barrel would be found in 1991 and 1992.
Early Wade Boggs Minor League Programs
Since recording this interview, Richard has picked up a handful of even earlier Wade Boggs pieces. The 1980 PawSox programs he mentioned in the episode are pictured here, in the center row, on the right.
Minor League Pay Stub
This is the type of piece that sets Richard’s collection apart. A signed pay stub from 1980 when Wade was a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox minor league team.
Game Used Glove
One piece Rich doesn’t have in his collection that he’d love to one day own is a game used glove from Wade, like this one from the 1993-94 seasons.
1982 First Baseman’s Glove
In 1982, Boggs split time between first and third base, starting 44 games at first compared to 39 at third. He committed only three errors at first for an impeccable .994 fielding percentage.
Joe Jackson’s Liquor Store
There are very few known examples of these business cards still existing. This is the one that was in Joe’s wallet the day he died.
Big Bobblehead
Limited to only 26 ever made, this 3’ tall bobblehead of Wade is the only one he’s ever signed. It’s the crown jewel of Richard’s collection.
Stairway To Heaven
As you can see, every inch of wall space (and even ceiling space) is methodically covered.
The Other Pair Of Shower Shoes
What…? Did you think I was joking? These are Wade’s shower shoes from Tampa Bay. Which means Richard is actively looking for a third pair of shower shoes, since he doesn’t have a Yankees pair.
@Boggs328
Richard joined twitter specifically to follow Wade Boggs. He has since followed a few other people.
Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs go back-to-back in the 1989 All-Star Game as Vin Scully and Ronald Reagan look on
First Meeting
The first time Richard met Wade and shook his hand was captured by an iPhone photo, then immortalized on this hand-painted baseball.
Richard’s License Plate
Signed by Wade the first time Richard met him.
The Boggs Tavern
If Wade ever makes his way to Joliet, Illinois to visit the tavern which bears his name, Richard is most excited to just sit at the bar and talk baseball with him.
The Boggs Trust
The Boggs Trust is made up of five members: Richard Davis, Nathan Flemming, Robert Howell, James Miles, and John Reichard.
Rare Air
Only a handful of people in the world know what it’s like to have a collection like Richard’s.
Other Collections
Richard also collects Star Wars memorabilia and merchandise, which gives him a mental break from All Boggs, All The Time.
200 Hits, 100 Walks In A Season
It’s only happened 25 times in history.
Only 12 players have ever done it.
Lou Gehrig - 7 times
Wade Boggs - 4 times (all consecutively)
Babe Ruth - 3 times
Stan Musial - 2 times
Todd Helton - 2 times
Ty Cobb (1915), Woody English (1930), Hack Wilson (1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932), Hank Greenberg (1937), John Olerud (1993), and Bernie Williams (1999)
Specifically For Richard
This is one of the pieces Wade has given Richard from his own personal collection. It’s a game worn jersey from a Celebrity All-Star Game, signed and inscribed, and delivered in person.
Inscription
To Richard
My #1 Collector
Wade Boggs
HOF 05
Wade knows. Now you know, too.
Wade Boggs on Cheers
Charlie Day from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia telling his Wade Boggs story
Wade Boggs Takes A Ride
After the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, helping Wade capture the first championship of his career, Wade Boggs hopped on the back of a police horse and took a victory lap around Yankee Stadium to celebrate.
Wade
‘s 3,000th Hit
Wade Boggs became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run as his 3,000th career hit. Two players (Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) have done it since, but Wade was the first.
As he crossed home after his trot around the bases, Wade bent down and kissed the plate. An iconic moment in his career, and in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history.
Silver Slugger Award
The Silver Slugger Award is decided by coaches and managers who vote for the players at each defensive position they'd most like to have on their team - based solely on their performance at the plate. Wade has 8 of them.
Don Mattingly
1980s American League baseball was Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly (who Richard thinks belongs in the Hall of Fame). Here, Ted Williams gives Mattingly help with his batting stance during a 1986 dinner as Wade Boggs looks on.
Richard stands proudly in his basement, showing off his unparalleled collection.
Follow Richard on Social Media
My First MJ Jersey
As you can see in the reflection, there have since been a few more added to the collection…
My mom’s Coca-Cola collection
1923 Coke Tray
These vintage trays are some of the old, special items my mom likes to collect.
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card
The most famous (and most expensive) card in the basketball hobby, this Michael Jordan rookie card is something I had been after for years.
My Alkaline Trio Collection
Or… parts of it. There’s a lot of stuff.
The evolution of Coca-Cola bottle designs over the years
Accumulation vs. Collection
Every piece in Richard’s collection has a specific purpose, story, and meaning. It’s placement within the display is carefully thought out. It may not always have a huge monetary value (though many pieces do), but every piece has sentimental value of some kind.
That’s the difference between someone who has a bunch of stuff, and someone who has a curated collection.
Meeting Your Hero
Sometimes it goes really well, like it luckily did for Richard when he met Wade Boggs.
Not everyone who meets their hero ends up being that lucky.
Alkaline Trio
I’ve never met Michael Jordan, but I have been lucky enough to meet and hang out with Alkaline Trio on a number of occasions.
Go-Go Rings
This was a new one to me, but apparently, these were a thing.
Thurman Munson
Catchers have a different view of the field than anyone else playing. Thurman Munson was one of the best to ever do it. Unfortunately, his career and life were cut short.
2005 Hall of Fame Inductee
Wade was a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, receiving 91.9% of the vote in his first year of eligibility. This framed jersey commemorating the induction class of 2005, which also included Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, is in the Boggs Tavern.
Red Sox Jersey Jersey Retirement
In an emotional ceremony in 2016, the Boston Red Sox retired Wade’s number 26.
Chicken Man
Wade’s consistent pre-game meal spawned a unique nickname, given to him by teammate Jim Rice.
Daniel Jacob Horine immortalized the moniker in this art print, released in 2021.
The Longest Game Ever
Richard actually has the audio tapes from the 33-inning game the Pawtucket Red Sox played against the Rochester Red Wings in 1981.