Tommy Boggs – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tommy Boggs spent nine seasons pitching in Major League Baseball, suiting up for the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves between 1976 and 1985. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, but really, Texas shaped him—he grew up there and hit the pro ranks straight out of Lanier High School in Austin after the Rangers made him the second overall pick in the 1974 MLB Draft.

Tommy Boggs retired from Major League Baseball in 1985 after his final run with the Texas Rangers. His career lasted almost a decade, and he faced plenty of challenges along the way, including injuries and even some legal trouble. He got tangled up in MLB’s first four-team trade, fought through recurring rotator cuff injuries, and ended up with a career record of 20 wins, 44 losses, and a 4.22 ERA in 114 games.

After he stopped playing, Boggs dove into coaching. He eventually became the head baseball coach at Concordia University Texas, where he built a solid second act in the sport. His story really covers the ups and downs that come with pro athletics, from being a can’t-miss draft pick to dealing with injuries and all the transitions that so many MLB players face.

Early Life and Background

Thomas Winton Boggs was born on October 25, 1955, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He grew up in Austin, Texas, though.

As a kid, he went to Yankee Stadium with his family, and that’s where his baseball journey really began. He became a standout pitcher in high school and jumped right into pro ball as a top draft pick.

Family and Hometown

Tommy Boggs came into the world in Poughkeepsie, New York, in a family that truly loved baseball. His grandparents helped spark his passion by taking him to games at Yankee Stadium when he was little.

Later, the family moved to Austin, Texas. That move turned out to be huge for his baseball path, since Texas high school baseball is a big deal and gave him the chance to really show what he could do.

Boggs married Suzette, and they raised two kids together. The family always stayed rooted in Texas, and Boggs eventually settled in Salado, Texas, where he passed away in 2022.

High School Baseball Career

Boggs went to Lanier High School in Austin, and he quickly stood out as a pitcher. His senior year in 1974 was when he really shined.

That year, he just dominated hitters. He finished with a 0.73 ERA, which is pretty wild for high school.

His performance earned him district player of the year honors in 1974. That recognition made him one of the top high school arms in Texas.

With numbers like that and all the attention, Boggs became one of the most sought-after high school prospects in the country.

Draft and Path to MLB

The Texas Rangers saw something special in Boggs and picked him in the first round of the 1974 MLB draft. He went second overall, which is about as high as it gets.

The Rangers clearly believed he could make it big in the pros, so they put a lot into signing him right out of high school.

Boggs spent two years working his way through the Rangers’ minor league system. Then, on July 19, 1976, he made his major league debut at just 20 years old.

Jumping from high school to the majors in only two years is quick, especially for a young pitcher still learning the ropes.

MLB Debut and Early Career

Tommy Boggs arrived in the majors as one of the top young pitchers in the Rangers’ system. His rookie season showed flashes of promise, but also the kind of struggles that so many young pitchers face.

Debut With the Texas Rangers

Boggs made his MLB debut on July 19, 1976, at just 20. The Rangers had picked him second overall in 1974, straight out of Lanier High School.

He jumped right into the majors that season. At the time, he was one of the youngest guys in the league.

The Rangers had big plans for him. At 6’2″ and 195 pounds, he looked the part. His debut kicked off a career the team hoped would be long and successful.

Boggs threw and batted right-handed. The Rangers saw him as a future rotation anchor. With his age and draft status, expectations ran pretty high.

Notable Rookie Season Highlights

Boggs managed two complete games in his rookie year, 1976. Those came on August 17 and August 22, showing he could handle a heavy workload.

He lost both games, though—one to the Yankees and one to the Indians. Those outings showed his stamina, but also the tough breaks he caught.

Overall, 1976 was rough for him. He finished 1-9 that season. Unfortunately, that kind of record stuck with him during his time in Texas.

Things didn’t really turn around in 1977. He went 0-1 that year, so across his first two seasons, he was 1-10. He had talent, but just couldn’t put it all together early on.

Career With the Atlanta Braves

Before the 1978 season, Tommy Boggs landed with the Atlanta Braves in a massive multi-team trade. He spent six years with Atlanta, and 1980 turned out to be his best big league season.

Trade to Atlanta Braves

The Texas Rangers traded Boggs to the Braves ahead of the 1978 season. It was a huge deal involving several teams and a lot of players.

Boggs had a tough run with the Rangers between 1976 and 1977, going just 1-10. The team decided to move on from their big draft pick.

The trade gave Boggs a clean slate with Atlanta. The Braves hoped he could finally become the pitcher everyone expected when he was drafted.

Key Performances With the Braves

Boggs’ best big league year came in 1980 with Atlanta. He went 12-9 with a 3.42 ERA over 32 games, starting 26 of them.

He was only 24 that season. It was the kind of performance that showed why he was such a high draft pick. That year ended up being his only winning record in the majors.

Things got tougher in 1981. He dropped to a 3-13 record with a 4.10 ERA. That season marked the start of his decline as a regular starter.

Memorable Games and Seasons

Boggs pitched for the Braves from 1978 to 1983. His 1980 season stood out as the highlight of his Atlanta tenure.

After 1981, things really slowed down. He made just 19 more big league appearances over his last four years in Atlanta.

The Braves gave him six seasons to find his footing. He showed glimpses of what he could do, but just couldn’t keep it going year after year.

Return to Texas Rangers and Final MLB Years

After dealing with rotator cuff injuries in Atlanta, Boggs returned to the Texas Rangers in 1984 on a minor league contract. His final big league season came in 1985, closing out a nine-year career that started and ended with Texas.

Second Stint With the Texas Rangers

The Rangers offered Boggs a minor league deal in 1984 after Atlanta let him go. He spent that entire year in the minors, trying to prove he could still pitch despite his shoulder issues.

Boggs made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster in 1985. That marked his return to the majors after missing all of 1984. His first go-round with Texas hadn’t gone well, with a combined 1-10 record.

The Rangers gave him another shot to help their pitching staff. After all, he was their prized prospect back in the 1974 draft.

Retirement in 1985

Boggs made his last MLB appearance on May 7, 1985, for the Rangers. Just five days later, on May 12, the team sent him back to the minors.

That short stint in 1985 pretty much ended his pro baseball days. The rotator cuff injury that had haunted him in Atlanta still held him back.

He finished with a 20-44 career record and a 4.22 ERA. Over nine seasons, he struck out 278 batters with both Texas and Atlanta. His MLB career ran from July 19, 1976, to May 7, 1985—all with the organization that first drafted him.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Tommy Boggs wrapped up his career with a 20-44 record and a 4.22 ERA over nine seasons, tallying 278 strikeouts in 114 games. His career path changed dramatically after he got caught up in MLB’s first four-team trade in 1977.

Pitching Records and Awards

Boggs ended up with 20 wins and 44 losses and a 4.22 ERA in the big leagues. He fanned 278 hitters in his nine-year career.

His most impressive early feat came in 1976 as a rookie. He tossed back-to-back complete games on August 17 and 22 against the Yankees and Indians. Even though he pitched well, he lost both games.

His high school stats were even better than his pro numbers. In 1974, he finished with a 0.73 ERA as a senior at Lanier High in Austin. That earned him district player of the year and made him a hot commodity for the draft.

Comparing Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves Tenures

Boggs really struggled during his Texas Rangers years (1976-1977 and 1985). He managed just a 1-10 record across those three seasons.

His time with the Atlanta Braves (1978-1983) went better. Most of his 20 wins came during his six years in Atlanta. But rotator cuff injuries started to take their toll in 1982 and 1983.

The Braves let him go after 1983 because of those injuries. He signed a minor league deal with Texas in 1984, spent almost all of that year in the minors, and then had a brief shot in the majors in 1985.

Career Retrospective

Boggs entered pro ball with a lot of hype as the second overall pick in the 1974 draft. The Rangers took him straight out of high school, skipping college entirely.

His name came up in the historic four-team trade on December 8, 1977. The Rangers sent him, Adrian Devine, and Eddie Miller to Atlanta in a wild 11-player deal that also involved the Pirates and Mets.

Off the field, things weren’t always smooth. In December 1983, Boggs got hit with gambling charges in DeKalb County, Georgia. He paid a $1,000 fine and got a year of probation, which held up his 1984 contract talks with the Rangers.

Post-Playing Career and Legacy

After he retired from the majors in 1985, Tommy Boggs really made an impact in youth baseball and college coaching. He started Austin’s first select baseball program and later turned Concordia University’s baseball team into a legit contender.

Life After MLB

Tommy Boggs didn’t wait around after his playing days ended. In 1986, he started Austin Slam Baseball, which was actually the first select baseball team in the Austin area.

This program turned into a real cornerstone for youth baseball in Central Texas. For decades, Boggs coached some of the best young players to come through the Capitol City.

The Austin Slam filled a pretty big gap in competitive youth baseball. Before Boggs set it up, young players around here just didn’t have many chances for high-level competition.

In 2009, Boggs took a shot at something new and became the head baseball coach at Concordia University in Austin. He turned the program around fast, making it one of the best in the American Southwest Conference.

“Hard work, intensity, focus, effort is all what he was about,” said Mason DuBois, a Concordia infielder who played under Boggs.

Contribution to Baseball Community

Boggs made an impact that went way beyond wins and losses. He built a family environment within his teams, focusing on developing young men both as players and as people.

“It’s been a journey of growth for sure playing under Coach Boggs,” said EJ Sanchez, a catcher at Concordia. “You definitely develop some things as a man and as a leader.”

His competitive nature pushed his programs to be better. “He loved the competitive aspect of baseball,” said Clint Mokry, who took over as Concordia’s head coach. “Never met someone more competitive than him.”

Boggs also helped build new facilities at Concordia University. He wanted to improve the infrastructure so player development and recruitment could actually thrive.

The coach’s influence spread across Austin’s baseball community. “His impact is felt everywhere in the baseball circles around this town,” Mokry said.

Honors and Remembrance

Tommy Boggs passed away on October 5, 2022. He was 66 and had fought cancer for some time.

His death hit the baseball community hard. He’d spent decades serving and shaping the sport.

Concordia University decided to honor Boggs by naming their field Gardener-Boggs Field after him and his predecessor. That recognition really shows just how much he meant to the program.

In 2023, the Concordia baseball team wore “TB” initials on their hats and helmets all season. The players played every game for their former coach, carrying his memory with them.

“Our prayers before games, our handshakes before games, we’re all thinking about him,” DuBois said. “Everything this year we know what it’s for and we know who we’re playing for.”

Boggs mentored a ton of players over the years. His focus on character and competitive spirit still shapes Austin’s baseball community today.