VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA

Vintage Baseball Memorabilia

Oil Can Boyd

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
6-1, 155lb (185cm, 70kg)
Born: October 6, 1959  in Meridian, MS
Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 16th round of the 1980 MLB June Amateur Draft from Jackson State University (Jackson, MS).
School: Jackson State University (Jackson, MS)
Debut: September 13, 1982 (14,692nd in major league history)
vs. CLE 5.1 IP, 7 H, 1 SO, 2 BB, 2 ER, L
Last Game: October 1, 1991
vs. SEA 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 4 ER, L
Full Name: Dennis Ray Boyd
Nicknames: Oil Can
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Nephew of Bob Boyd

Notable Events and Chronology for Oil Can Boyd

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September 13, 1982

9/13/1982: In the first game of a doubleheader in Boston, Toby Harrah hit a high fly down the left field line that hit the pole just above the wall. Third base umpire Maloney ruled that the ball hit the yellow line on the wall and was in play. The pitcher was Oil Can Boyd; Harrah was the third batter Boyd faced in his debut after retiring the first two.

August 28, 1983

Greg Luzinski becomes the first player to park three home runs onto the roof at Comiskey Park

April 8, 1985

At Fenway Park, 46-year-old Phil Niekro starts for the New York Yankees, becoming the second oldest pitcher ever to start on Opening Day. Only Jack Quinn, for the Brooklyn Robins in 1931, was older at age 47. The Boston Red Sox chase Niekro after four innings and, behind the pitching of Oil Can Boyd, coast to a 9 – 2 win. Niekro walks four in the 3rd inning, including two with the bases loaded, to lose his seventh opener in a row (six with Atlanta), the worst opening day record ever. Outfielders Tony Armas, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice stroke home runs for Boston.

May 27, 1986

” What do you expect when they build a ballpark on the ocean”

July 10, 1986

Oil Can Boyd (11-6) flies into a rage after learning that he has been left off the American League All-Star team and storms out of Fenway Park prior to Boston’s game against the Angels. He will be suspended indefinitely by the Red Sox and eventually scuffle with local police before checking into a hospital for psychiatric testing. The weirdness continues into the game as the Angels score three in the 12th to take a 7 – 4 lead. Boston then scores three to tie and when Todd Fischer replaces Mike Cook, he balks in Dwight Evans with the winning run.

July 10, 1986

A very disappointed Oil Can Boyd (11-6, 3.71) begins shouting and throwing clothes in the Red Sox clubhouse after learning he had not been selected by KC manager Dick Howser to be one of the eight pitchers for the American League All-Star team. The inconsolable right-hander, who will storm out of Fenway Park before the team’s scheduled game against California, will be suspended without pay for three days for his tirade.

December 7, 1989

1989 – Storm Davis‚ 19-7 for the A’s last season‚ signs as a free agent with the Royals. Other free agent signees include Craig Lefferts (San Diego)‚ Pete O’Brien (Seattle)‚ Oil Can Boyd (Montreal)‚ and Keith Hernandez (Cleveland).

July 21, 1991

The Expos trade P Oil Can Boyd to the Rangers for pitchers Jonathan Hurst and Joey Eischen, and a player to be named later. Boyd last pitched on the 19th, shutting out the Giants, 6 – 0, on five hits.

May 8, 1994

In their first official game against an all-men’s team, the Colorado Silver Bullets are defeated by the Northern League All-Stars, 19 – 0. The Bullets are outhit, 21-2, and commit six errors in the field. They become the first women’s team to play a men’s professional team. Leon Durham hits two homers and Oil Can Boyd makes the start for the All-Stars.

Biography

One of 14 children of Negro Leaguer Willie James Boyd, the flamboyant, moody, and high-strung Oil Can is one of baseball’s underachievers, plagued by a hot temper and persistent shoulder problems. Boyd emerged as one of the AL’s top starters in 1985, pitching 272.1 innings despite an emaciated-looking 6’2″ 160-lb frame, fanning 12 batters in a game twice, and winning 15 games. At the same time, he became disliked around the league for his cocky demeanor and animated fist-pumping and finger-wagging on the mound. In 1986 Boyd had 11 wins by mid-July, but flew into a rage when he was left off the All-Star squad and was suspended by the Red Sox before checking into a hospital with emotional problems. He returned in August to add five more wins during Boston’s pennant run, but a recurring blood clot in his right shoulder forced him onto the DL five times from 1987 to 1989 and has threatened to end his career. His nickname comes from his Mississippi hometown, where beer is called oil.

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