Wade Boggs

Five-time American League batting champion Wade Boggs escaped serious injury Saturday night at Winter Haven, Fla., when he fell out of a pickup truck being driven by his wife, Debbie. Boggs, whose mother was killed in a traffic accident in 1986, suffered only cuts and bruises. "I'm just glad to be alive," Boggs said. Boggs said the truck was going about 25 m.p.h. when the incident occurred.

* Notable players born in 1958, the same year Franco was born (year retired in parentheses): Neil Allen (1989); Wade Boggs (1999); Bill Doran (1993); Gary Gaetti (2000); Atlee Hammaker (1995); Dave Henderson (1994); Rickey Henderson (2003); Orel Hershiser (2000); Glenn Hoffman (1989); Steve Howe (1996); Tim Leary (1994); Dave Righetti (1995); Mike Scioscia (1992); John Shelby (1991); Dickie Thon (1993); Alan Trammell (1996); Matt Young (1993).

A commissioner ruled Friday that a $6-million lawsuit filed by the former girlfriend of Boston Red Sox star Wade Boggs does not meet legal requirements. However, Eleanor Palk, Orange County Superior Court commissioner, said Margo Adams, 32, of Costa Mesa can redraft and refile her suit, which alleges that Boggs breached an oral contract to pay her expenses for joining him on Red Sox trips for four years. Adams' lawyer, James McGee, said the suit will be refiled.

Scott Cooper knew it wouldn't be easy. He knew his every move would be scrutinized and that constant comparisons were inevitable. In Boston, the guy who replaced Wade Boggs would be as popular as an actor who took over the role of Norm for George Wendt on "Cheers." But it was almost worse than Cooper envisioned when Boggs left for New York and he became the Red Sox's everyday third baseman last season.

Wade Boggs helped himself and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays reach new heights. Boggs hit a two-run homer and later passed Babe Ruth for 33rd place on the career hits list as the expansion Devil Rays won their team-record fifth consecutive game, 11-5, Monday night over the Oakland Athletics. "When you talk about a name like Babe Ruth, I don't care if you beat him in eating hamburgers, it's some kind of name," Tampa Bay Manager Larry Rothschild said. "It was electric. It was exciting.