JULY 11 • 2024 | 33
should not be in the Hall
of Fame, he thinks Pete
Rose should be despite his
admission of betting on
baseball games, Raider said.
“Wade also said he attends
the Hall of Fame induction
in Cooperstown every
year because of the Hall of
Famers who came to his
induction. That meant a lot
to him,” Raider said.
Boggs is legendary for
stories told about him. He
was more than happy to
expound on the stories with
guests at the invitational,
Raider said.
While Boggs’ beer
drinking and chicken eating
escapades are funny, his
strictly regimented lifestyle
and superstitions played big
roles in his success on the
diamond.
He drew the Hebrew word
“Chai” (good luck) in the
dirt every time he batted to
wish himself good luck.
Boggs played for the
Boston Red Sox, New York
Yankees and Tampa Bay
Rays from 1982-1999. He
had 3,010 hits in his major
league career and a lifetime
.328 batting average.
He was not a home run
hitter. He had just 118 in 18
seasons.
Boggs became a high
school baseball coach
after retiring from playing
baseball. The 66-year-old
Omaha, Neb., native has
switched to grandfather
mode, Raider said, spending
time with his seven
grandchildren.
MJSF executive director
Don Rudick said there were
106 golfers, 16 pickleball
players and eight tennis
players at the invitational,
along with 90 people who
came for the dinner and
festivities, which included
door prizes, a 50-50 raffle,
and live and silent auctions.
The invitational co-chairs
were Brian Eisenberg and JJ
Modell for golf and Jeffrey
Deitch for tennis. Steve
Greenberg is the honorary
co-chair of the event.
The invitational is a
fundraiser for the Karmanos
Cancer Institute — Lawrence
and Idell Weisberg Cancer
Center in Farmington Hills.
About $2 million has been
raised through the years,
Raider said.
The MJSF is celebrating
its 40th anniversary this
year. Next on its calendar is
the 37th annual Michigan
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
induction dinner Oct. 28 at
The J in West Bloomfield.
The Jewish News High
School Athletes of the Year,
Dr. Steven and Evelyn
Rosen Stars of Tomorrow
Scholarship recipients,
and Alvin & Shirley Foon
Humanitarian Award
recipient also will be
honored that night.
Send sports news
to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
Wade Boggs received the
Hank Greenberg Lifetime
Achievement Award at the
Greenberg Invitational.