Oil Can Boyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oil Can Boyd |
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Oil Can Boyd in 2008
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 6, 1959 Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 1982, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1991, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 78–77 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.04 | ||
| Strikeouts | 799 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Dennis Ray "Oil Can" Boyd, born on October 6, 1959, is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for three teams: the Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers.
During his 10-season career, Boyd had a record of 78 wins and 77 losses. He also recorded 799 strikeouts. His ERA was 4.04 over 1,389.2 innings.
His unique nickname, "Oil Can," came from his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. People there used to call beer "oil."
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Dennis Ray "Oil Can" Boyd was born in Meridian, Mississippi. His parents were Willie "Skeeter" Boyd and Girtharae "Sweetie."
He went to Meridian High School (Mississippi) and then Jackson State University. The Boston Red Sox picked him in the 16th round of the 1980 amateur draft. He made his first appearance in the major leagues in 1982. Boyd was tall and thin, standing 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 150 pounds.
Major League Career Highlights
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
Boyd played for the Boston Red Sox from 1982 to 1989. From 1983 to 1985, he won 31 games for the team. In 1985, he had 15 victories. By the middle of that season, his record was 10 wins and 5 losses. His ERA was 3.19.
By the end of 1985, he set personal bests in several areas. He started 35 games, completed 13 complete games, and had 154 strikeouts. He also pitched 272.1 innings. The Boston Baseball Writers Association chose him as the 1985 Boston Red Sox Pitcher of the Year.
In 1986, Boyd won a career-high 16 games for the Red Sox. He had 11 wins and 6 losses by the All-Star break. During the 1986 American League Championship Series, he started two games. He helped the Red Sox win Game Six against the California Angels.
Boyd also started Game Three of the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets. He gave up four runs in the first inning. Overall, he allowed six runs. He was scheduled to start the final Game Seven. However, a rainout allowed the manager to change pitchers.
In 1987, Boyd faced an arm injury that needed surgery. This limited him to only seven games that season. His record was 1 win and 3 losses. His injuries also affected his performance in 1988 and 1989. His records were 9–7 and 3–2 in those years.
Time with the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers
After the 1989 season, Boyd signed with the Montreal Expos as a free agent. In 1990, he won 10 games for the Expos. He had a good ERA of 2.93.
In 1991, the Texas Rangers traded for him. He had a 6–8 record with the Expos before joining the Rangers. However, his time with the Rangers was tough. In 12 starts, he had a 2–7 record. His ERA was 6.68, which was the highest of his career. He allowed 81 hits in just 62 innings. After the season, Boyd became a free agent. He decided to retire after turning down offers to be a relief pitcher.
Later Career and Traveling All-Stars
After his time in Major League Baseball, Boyd played in Mexico. He played for the Industriales of Monterrey in 1993. In 1994, he played for the Yucatan Leones.
In 2005, Boyd returned to baseball at 45 years old. He pitched for the Brockton Rox in the Can-Am League. He played in 17 games, winning 4 and losing 5. His ERA was 3.83 over 110 innings. In 2007, he went on a barnstorming tour. This was like the old Negro leagues teams that traveled to play. His team was called "Oil Can Boyd's Traveling All-Stars."
Legacy and Famous Quote
In 2010, Boyd was honored by being inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.
Boyd was known for his exciting personality during games. He would pump his fists and shout from the dugout. He also gave high-fives to his teammates. Reporters in Boston often looked to him for interesting quotes. One of his most famous quotes came after a game was delayed due to fog. The game was at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, near Lake Erie. When asked about the fog, Boyd joked, "That's what you get for building a ballpark on the ocean."
Family Connections in Baseball
Oil Can Boyd has many relatives who also played professional baseball.
- His uncles, K. T. Boyd and Robert Boyd, played for teams like the Kansas City Monarchs and the Kansas City Athletics. Robert also played for the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro leagues.
- His great-great-uncle, Benjamin Boyd, played for the Memphis Red Sox and the Homestead Grays.
- Boyd is also related to baseball player Barry Larkin. Barry Larkin is Boyd's father's first cousin.
