Books and articles about Oil Can Boyd

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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. (SCL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 3, 1980: The New York Mets select 18-year-old Darryl Strawberry from Los Angeles's Crenshaw High School with the first pick in the annual June free-agent draft. The Blue Jays then pick SS Garry Harris. Lefty Ken Dayley (Braves) is the 3rd pick, pitcher Mike King (A's) 4th, Jeff Pyburn (Padres) 5th, and Darnell Coles (M's) 6th. The Reds pick Danny Tartabull on the 3rd round and Eric Davis on the 8th. On the 16th round, the Twins take Jim Eisenreich while the Red Sox pick Oil Can Boyd. On the 4th round of the secondary phase draft on June 5, the Rangers find gold with Tom Henke. » August 28, 1983: Greg Luzinski becomes the first player to park three home runs onto the roof at Comiskey Park, connecting off Boston's Oil Can Boyd in a 6–2 Chicago victory. Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams each accomplished the feat twice. » April 8, 1985: At Fenway, 46-year-old Phil Niekro starts for the Yankees, the 2nd oldest pitcher ever to start an Opener: only Jack Quinn, for Brooklyn in 1931, was older at age 47. Boston chases Niekro after four innings and behind the pitching of Oil Can Boyd coasts to a 9–2 win. Niekro walks four in the 3rd inning, including two with the bases loaded, to lose his 7th opener in a row (6 with Atlanta), the worst opening day record ever. Tony Armas, Dwight Evans, and Jim Rice stroke homers for Boston. » September 5, 1985: Boston's first two batters -- Dwight Evans and Wade Boggs -- crack homers off Cleveland's Neal Heaton in Boston's 13–6 win in game 1. Evans adds another home run to back Oil Can Boyd's first win in seven weeks. Cleveland wins the nitecap, 9–5. » 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 as the Angels score three in the 12th to take a 7–4 lead. Boston then scores three to tie and when Fischer replaces Cook, he balks in Dwight Evans with the winning run. » December 7, 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.