Oil Can Boyd Is a Throwback to the Old Days

The best pitcher on the Boston Red Sox wishes he had played baseball in the 1930s and 1940s, when players had nicknames like his own, when their style was as flamboyant as his, when the pleasure of playing was valued more than the paycheck.

Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd dreams of another era, though he is the beneficiary of the present. The man who plays with the enthusiasm of the Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and the skill of a major leaguer, was born after the Negro Leagues had died, after Jackie Robinson broke through baseball’s color barrier.

But Boyd grew up hearing about the great black ballplayers, about Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and men who played for the love of the game. The reality of the past may not be as alluring as the image, but the fascination remains.

“I’ve thought about it a lot, playing with guys wearing those old-time uniforms, calling each other by nicknames. There was a lot of fun in the game back then. It’s like I’m playing in the wrong era,” Boyd, 25, says with regret.

For Red Sox fans, the right-hander’s enthusiasm and drive are what make him distinctive. His 12-11 record is the team’s best. He shakes teammates’ hands after a double play, punches the air after a big strikeout and snaps his fingers while striding about the mound, which energize the crowd.

In the major leagues, Boyd is special. Back home in Meridian, Miss., his emotional displays were the norm.

“I don’t really try to do anything, it’s all just natural. Where I grew up, that’s the way we played,” explained the 6-foot-1, 155-pound pitcher. “The antics and all of it came from there.

“It was a Bingo Long atmosphere, with lots of bragging, lots of boasting going on across the field, telling the other team, ‘Man, we’re going to wipe you out today.’

“People think I’m flamboyant now, but I was much more so years ago. I played with a lot of showboats, it was an atmosphere where everybody was flamboyant, where guys could entertain as well as play ball,” said “The Can,” whose nickname derives from Meridian where “oil” is a euphemism for the beer which Boyd drank in great quantity.

But some of his current opponents don’t think Boyd is very amusing.

Reggie Jackson, of whom a teammate once said there wasn’t enough mustard in the world to cover, has, in turn, accused Boyd of hot-dogging. The pitcher tried to subdue himelf and but his work suffered.

“I’m just going to be myself. If they don’t like it, too bad. At first the criticism bothered me, but now I don’t give a damn. I’m going to win with the way I am,” stated Boyd.

“Guys don’t think like they used to--attitudes change. Now it’s business, negotiations and feuds. All of he things that take fun out of the game. They play the game for blood.”

After three years at Jackson State (Miss.), he signed with Boston and began the three-year climb to the majors. Last year was to be Boyd’s first full season with Boston. Instead, his erratic performances and blowing of big leads resulted in a seven-week demotion to Triple A.

“I needed a good kick in the butt last season and I got it when I was sent back to Pawtucket. I had taken my job for granted,” he concedes.

“I knew I had the stuff to win, but I was just going through the motions. Believe me, there’s nothing that will put your head on any straighter than a trip back to the minors.”

No longer seeking to challenge hitters, Boyd simply tries to get them out. He effectively mixes his fastball, curve, screwball, slider and changeup, all of which he throws with accuracy.

Boyd was the Opening Day pitcher this year and after defeating the New York Yankees, he drew this praise from Don Mattingly:

“I always thought he had good stuff. I always had respect for him, but he used to be a hard-fastball, hard-breaking ball, challenge-type pitcher. But he had an off-speed pitch this time and kept me off-stride. Everything he threw was set up by the change,” said the 1984 batting champion.

Manager John McNamara has high regard for Boyd’s understanding of his profession.

“He and Catfish Hunter were two pitchers who knew how to pitch when they were young. All Oil Can needs is maturity and he’s getting that every game,” said McNamara.

As Boyd’s success grows, so does his confidence. Asked which is his “out” pitch, the unbashful Boyd responds: “Any pitch which comes out of my hand.”