Oil Can Boyd returning to Boston area
By Rick McNair
Oil Can Boyd is returning to the Boston area.
Boyd, age 54, will be starting for the local Cranberry League All Star team this Wednesday evening as they face off against the Chinese Taipei National Team at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
Chinese Taipei, the fourth-ranked national team in the world, is making the rounds in New England with a series of exhibition games.
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The is not Boyd’s first rodeo in the Brockton area, as he has appeared in the past with Bill Lee and his traveling circus. Boyd also pitched for the defunct Brockton Rox of the Can-Am independent league.
Boyd also pitched in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sioux City and, of course, The Blue Ox of Bangor, Maine. Probably a few more since “The Can” always loved baseball with a passion.
Boyd, who claimed he was often under the influence of cocaine when he pitched, attempted a brief MLB comeback on several occasions and will always be remembered by this fan for ending up in a psychiatric hospital over a temper rage at being left off the MLB All-Star Team.
For trivia fans, “Can” was scheduled to pitch game seven of the 1986 World Series until rain forced a postponement.
Boyd got his colorful nickname from his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi where beer was called “oil.”
Boyd finished his eight seasons in Boston with a 60-56 record and an ERA of 4.15.