MLB: Top 10 Worst Reasons Players Have Missed Time

Player: Wade Boggs, third baseman, Boston Red Sox

Reason(s): Taking off his cowboy boots

Hall of Fame player Wade Boggs is mostly recognized for his hitting ability. In his entire 18-year career, Boggs hit .300 or better 15 times, retiring after winning the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996 with a career AVG of .328.

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Boggs led MLB in AVG five separate times. he led in OBP six times. He even led in OPS, despite averaging 8 HR per season, two times

Most people remember the Boston Red Sox in 1986 for the famous Bill Buckner play in the World Series against the New York Mets. That wasn’t the craziest thing to happen in 1986, however.

The craziest moment occurred behind the scenes when Boggs bruised his hips and missed a week of baseball. How? While taking off his cowboy boots.

That’s right!

After returning back to his hotel room in Toronto, Boggs tried to take off his boots, lost his balance and hurt his ribcage on the arm of his couch.

Unlike the other players, Boggs did manage to play the next game, but things were so bad that after a while, the Red Sox had to give the third baseman a few days off.

That season, Boggs still managed to smack 207 hits and put together a .357 AVG. He also helped the Red Sox make it to a game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Mets.

I’m not sure which of these is worse. The worst part is, these are just five of many examples of embarrassing reasons to miss games.

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