It was on this date in 1997, that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed veteran 3B, Wade Boggs, to a two year deal with an option for a third year.
Boggs, at 40 years old, was a veteran of 16 seasons and was heading to his hometown in Tampa to finish out his playing career and hopefully reach the 3,000 hit club, thus ensuring his spot in Cooperstown.
He was the Devil Rays starting third baseman during their first game in franchise history, and he would launch the team’s first ever home run later on in the game.