Tampa To Retire Boggs' Number

March 15, 2000 / 6:08 PM EST / CBS/AP

No one will wear No. 12 again for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The club announced Wednesday that it will retire the uniform number in honor of third baseman Wade Boggs, who retired after getting his 3,000th hit last season. A ceremony is planned for April 7, the team's home opener against the Cleveland Indians.

Boggs, 41, a Tampa native, became the 23rd member of the 3,000-hit club when he homered off Cleveland's Chris Haney last Aug. 7 at Tropicana Field. He also hit the first home run in Devil Rays history, hitting a solo shot off Detroit's Justin Thompson in Tampa Bay's inaugural game two years ago.

The five-time AL batting champion hit .300 or better in 15 of 18 major league seasons, finishing with 3,010 hits and a .328 career batting average. He is currently serving as a special assistant to general manager Chuck LaMar.

Boggs becomes the 60th AL player to have his uniform retired and will hold the distinction of being the first in major league history to have No. 12 retired in his honor. The 12-time All-Star, who also played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, also will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the home opener.