Hall of Famer Wade Boggs announces cancer diagnosis

Baseball Hall of Fame member Wade Boggs has prostate cancer.

He made the announcement Saturday night on social media and sounded optimistic, saying he will be ready to take part in the ritual cancer patients have of ringing a bell when they've concluded their treatment.

"With the strength and support of my family and my faith in God I'm going to ring that damn bell," Boggs wrote, adding a photo prostate cancer patient guide.

Boggs, 66, played 18 MLB seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1982-92), New York Yankees (1993-97) and the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99).

A five-time batting champion and 12-time All-Star, Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005 on the first ballot, garnering votes on 91.9 percent of ballots.

The Hall of Fame sent good wishes, posting to social media, "We're with you every step of the way, Wade!"

In his career, Boggs hit .328 and joined the 3,000-hit club, finishing with 3,010 to go with 1,513 runs, 118 homers and 1,014 RBIs.

Boggs' contemporary and fellow 2005 enshrinee, Ryne Sandberg, said in mid-August that he was cancer-free following treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.

"Rang the Bell this morning!" Sandberg wrote. "WE did it, WE won! What a Dream Team, family, doctors, friends, nurses, fans who supported myself and (wife) Margaret through the last 8 months! We feel so blessed from all the love, prayers and thoughts and positive words that have come our way!"

--Field Level Media