New York Newspaper Calls Boggs a Chicken for Choosing Not to Play

BOSTON — Wade Boggs, the Boston Red Sox third baseman, took some media backlash Friday for his reluctance to play in Thursday night’s opener of a four-game series with the New York Yankees.

Boggs, who leads the Yankees’ Don Mattingly in the American League batting race, .357 to .350, did not play because of a small hamstring tear in his right leg and a back strain.

A bold headline on the back page of the New York Daily News read: CHICKEN. The headline under it read: Boggs ‘Backs’ Out of Showdown vs. Don. The story was merely a factual account of Boggs’ ailments and his statement that he did not want to risk major injury with the American League playoffs opening Tuesday.

Boggs was angry Friday.

“I could(n’t) care less what people think,” he said. “I saw the headlines in the New York paper today. I’m not out here to be a hero. I’m here to further my security for the playoffs.

“If that’s the way they want to play it, fine with me. I’m not out here to write stories for the paper. I’m out here to get ready for the playoffs, that’s the name of that tune.”

Boggs was not scheduled to play Friday night when the Red Sox and Yankees were rained out. They will play a doubleheader today, but Boggs said it is unlikely he will play.