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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

‘Oil Can’ Boyd says he used crack entire ‘86 season

Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, who pitched eight of his 10 major league seasons with the Boston Red Sox, says he used crack cocaine every day of the 1986 season while with the Red Sox, including one day in Oakland when he smoked in the clubhouse before one of his starts and had the drug tucked in his cap while on the mound.

In an interview with ESPN’s Buster Olney that appeared in an episode of “E:60” on Tuesday, Boyd said his teammates knew of his drug use during the 1986 season and that he occasionally would talk about it with team doctor and minority owner Arthur Pappas, but never was drug tested.

“I would come into the ballpark, (Pappas) would call me in the back and he ask me, ‘How you feel? Did you do some last night?’ And I was honest with him, ‘Yes I did,’ ” Boyd said.

“OK. So that was my drug test, you got me? Ain’t nobody made me pee in no cup.”

And there’s more…and there’s this.

Boyd, who was known for his flamboyance and volatility during his big league career, also said he regrets the Negro Leagues were broken up because of the loss of individuality that thrived in the leagues.

“I’m not real thankful to Jackie (Robinson) at all because I’m me, my style of baseball, the way I played it in the major leagues transpired from the Negro Leagues,” said Boyd, whose father played in the Negro Leagues. “So that’s why people found that I was a hot dog or I was flamboyant.

“Now the kids don’t even know the ballplayers anymore, it’s so commercialized. And they wonder where the black ballplayer went. Well, black ballplayers went to jail. In the last 20 years, that’s where they are.”

Repoz Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:24 PM | 53 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, red sox

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1. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:41 PM (#4121324)

Take it easy, Oil Can. Why don't you sit this next one out, stop talking for a while.

2. tshipman

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:42 PM (#4121325)

“I’m not real thankful to Jackie (Robinson) at all because I’m me, my style of baseball, the way I played it in the major leagues transpired from the Negro Leagues,” said Boyd, whose father played in the Negro Leagues. “So that’s why people found that I was a hot dog or I was flamboyant.

I'm reasonably certain that he didn't think this one all the way through, as I assume he maintains a relatively comfortable lifestyle currently, unlike retired Negro Leaguers.

3. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:47 PM (#4121327)

Olney should have had Boyd tested before starting the interview.

4. Morty Causa Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:51 PM (#4121332)

How often is Oil Can going to come out of the closet on this?

5. AROM Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:11 PM (#4121341)

Anyone know who his father is?

Among those in BB-ref's database my best guesses are Bob Boyd or James Boyd who played in the late 40's. Though if he only started playing after 1948, he won't be there.

6. The District Attorney Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:12 PM (#4121342)

I'm reasonably certain that he didn't think this one all the way through, as I assume he maintains a relatively comfortable lifestyle currently, unlike retired Negro Leaguers.

Oh, I don't know...

I'm guessing Boyd noticed that Bill Lee has been getting attention for decades for no apparent reason and is going for it.

Anyone know who his father is?

"Tin Man"?

7. Morty Causa Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:23 PM (#4121347)

Anyone know who his father is?

Oil Can Harry?

8. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:42 PM (#4121358)

He is magnificently incoherent.

9. Mattbert Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:49 PM (#4121364)

Between the Can talking about some the racism he and his family endured as a youngster and the preceding RA Dickey interview, this was a fairly intense show.

Boyd got seriously emotional at one point.

10. cardsfanboy

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:52 PM (#4121366)

‘Oil Can’ Boyd says he used crack entire ‘86 season

Doesn't this fall in the water is wet, Babe Ruth is a hofer, intelligent design isn't science type of obviousness?

11. hokieneer Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:00 AM (#4121370)

EDIT - delete

12. Phil Coorey. Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:07 AM (#4121371)

Edit - deleting post

13. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:28 AM (#4121375)

I guess crack might be considered performance-enhancing, sort of? I guess it would depend on when you did it, and it sounds like he was smoking after games, so maybe not. Never having smoked crack, I'm kinda spitballing here.

14. MC Skat Kat, Weltmeister in Schach Und Boxen Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:36 AM (#4121382)

Suddenly, chicken and beer don't look so bad.

15. Chicago Joe

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:41 AM (#4121384)

Never having smoked crack, I'm kinda spitballing here.

Well, even assuming you could fire up between innings, probably not. It's like less enjoyable coke.

16. bobm Posted: May 02, 2012 at 12:46 AM (#4121387)

A New York Times profile of Oil Can Boyd’s troubles on July 20, 1986, by Ira Berkow, included these excerpts: ...

Boyd was born Oct. 6, 1959, the last of nine children in the family of Willie James Boyd Sr.

Source: http://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/oil-can-boyd-in-1986/

Google Books has the following quote associated with the same 1986 New York Times profile of Boyd:

Boyd's father was a shortstop with the Homestead Grays of the Negro League, and his uncle KT Boyd also played in the league

Clark and Lester's Negro Leagues Book lists Willie Boyd as a pitcher in 1943 and 1946 for Homestead and Newark.

Source: http://www.baseball-fever.com/archive/index.php/t-99618.html

17. zachtoma Posted: May 02, 2012 at 01:24 AM (#4121398)

When I read that his father was in the Negro Leagues I immediately thought of Bob Boyd, but I guess that's not the case.

18. God Posted: May 02, 2012 at 01:36 AM (#4121402)

If his father was Bobby Boyd it would be listed on BB-Ref since Bobby played in the majors as well.

19. Horror Posted: May 02, 2012 at 01:47 AM (#4121405)

I didn't know Oil Can Boyd was black.

20. God Posted: May 02, 2012 at 01:50 AM (#4121406)

For those of us who were alive back then, #19 is kind of jarring. Sort of like somebody saying they didn't know Ronald Reagan was white.

21. Horror Posted: May 02, 2012 at 01:51 AM (#4121407)

Ronald who? You mean Ronald McDonald?

22. Sunday silence Posted: May 02, 2012 at 03:05 AM (#4121420)

He's white. ANd a deep shade of orange if I recall.

23. Flynn Posted: May 02, 2012 at 04:13 AM (#4121421)

I'm guessing Boyd noticed that Bill Lee has been getting attention for decades for no apparent reason and is going for it.

Lee's a lot funnier than Oil Can. The Can's tragic.

24. Craig Calcaterra Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:46 AM (#4121428)

Boyd started one game in Oakland in 1986. On May 11. His line: 7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K and he allowed three homers. One of the homers was to Jose Canseco, making it the most drugged up homer in the history of baseball.

25. Repoz

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:03 AM (#4121429)

making it the most drugged up homer in the history of baseball.

Does this trump the Hoffman-LaRoche match-ups?

26. Matt Chico's Bail Bonds (Dan Lee) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:03 AM (#4121430)

Another "highly" drugged up home run of the 1980s: May 10, 1981. Dave Parker goes deep off of Lary Sorensen.

27. Lassus Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:18 AM (#4121433)

I missed the crack bit, but i saw what Mattbert is referring to in #9, and it was rather gripping.

28. villageidiom Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:29 AM (#4121439)

Boyd started one game in Oakland in 1986. On May 11. His line: 7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K and he allowed three homers. One of the homers was to Jose Canseco, making it the most drugged up homer in the history of baseball.

Darryl Strawberry hit a HR off Boyd on April 21, 1990. Obviously that wasn't during 1986, but come on.

29. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:32 AM (#4121440)

I didn't know Oil Can Boyd was black.

For those of us who were alive back then, #19 is kind of jarring. Sort of like somebody saying they didn't know Ronald Reagan was white.

Or that they didn't know that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.

30. villageidiom Posted: May 02, 2012 at 08:35 AM (#4121452)

Or that they didn't know that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.

It's the same thing! You can tell Barack Obama is from Hawaii just by looking at him!

31. tfbg9 Posted: May 02, 2012 at 08:57 AM (#4121463)

When the manager is a hopeless alkie, he's not gonna be able to intervene effectively when his number 3 starter's a major crackhead.

32. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:06 AM (#4121470)

When the manager is a hopeless alkie, he's not gonna be able to intervene effectively when his number 3 starter's a major crackhead.

I don't know. Maybe he could get him to take up drinking instead?

It's like less enjoyable coke.

Why was a guy making lots of money doing crack instead of coke? Hell, he could've snorted coke between innings.

33. Matt Chico's Bail Bonds (Dan Lee) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:14 AM (#4121475)

"First of all, let's get one thing straight. Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack."

34. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:40 AM (#4121493)

I believe Can has a movie part lined up to play Satchel Paige. He was talking about it at Fantasy Camp this year. But if he keeps talking about all the crack and drugs he did during his playing career he's going to cost himself that part as the movie folks may figure he could be more hassle than he's worth. And that would be a shame.

35. zonk Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:49 AM (#4121501)

Why was a guy making lots of money doing crack instead of coke? Hell, he could've snorted coke between innings.

It's all marketing nowadays... crack was billed as the concentrated coke, but people should have known it would end up being cut with more fillers than a discount cigarette.

But whatya gonna do -- the whole drug world has gone down hill since the opium dens fell out of chic.

36. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 02, 2012 at 10:27 AM (#4121535)

The Can's tragic.

One meaning of "tragic" is "a useless piece of ####," eh? Live & learn.

37. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 10:42 AM (#4121549)

Now, if you lived through it back then, all of the Oil Can's problems came from things outside himself--people didn't understand, they treated him differently, they were unfair, they were prejudiced. He had many reasons and excuses, none to do with his behavior and habits.

38. Der_K Posted: May 02, 2012 at 10:55 AM (#4121559)

The stuff below the fold is definitely what caught my eye.

I caught less than a minute of the segment, but I believe I heard that Boyd now makes a modest living signing autographs/memorabilia.

39. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 02, 2012 at 11:02 AM (#4121563)

Oddly enough, for fans, crack use skyrocketed following the entire '86 season.

40. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 11:06 AM (#4121567)

Yeah, but they had cause.

41. Answer Guy Posted: May 02, 2012 at 11:29 AM (#4121598)

Boston in the 80s was a tough place for a guy like Boyd. It might have made one long for the Negro Leagues, but it was also an easy excuse for him not to deal with his own issues.

And ofthe course Boyd owes his entire fame and fortune to the breaking of the color barrier.

42. phredbird

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4121625)

the most drugged up homer in the history of baseball

how many homers did mickey mantle hit off sam mcdowell? now there's hitting drugged up home runs the right way.

43. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 02:20 PM (#4121797)

This may say more about my mentality than about Bouton's or Mantle's, but I remember when I first read Ball Four, the stories that were thought to demean and demythologize Mantle I thought actually made him made alluring and likable. One story had Mantle not playing because of injury, so he went on a bender that night. The next day on the bench, all hung over and probably still affected by the booze, he's called to pinch hit. He hits a tremendous homer, the Yankees win, and the fans are cheering wildly. After circling the bases, his head down, he collapses on the bench, looks up at those cheering fans, and says, "They'll never know how hard that was." [paraphrasedfrom memory]

44. Rotsa Ruck Posted: May 02, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4121834)

Now, if you lived through it back then, all of the Oil Can's problems came from things outside himself--people didn't understand, they treated him differently, they were unfair, they were prejudiced. He had many reasons and excuses, none to do with his behavior and habits.

That's the prototypical lament of an alcoholic/addict. I haven't seen the interview, only read the article. I hope he's got a different perspective now.

45. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 04:00 PM (#4121890)

Looks like he's working at cashing in on his troubled past with a book--just so it wasn't all a waste, I suppose. There's a saying in AA: when drunks or addicts who are asssholes quit drinking or using, that only means they are sober asssholes.

46. Rotsa Ruck Posted: May 02, 2012 at 04:16 PM (#4121915)

Looks like he's working at cashing in on his troubled past with a book--just so it wasn't all a waste, I suppose. There's a saying in AA: when drunks or addicts who are asssholes quit drinking or using, that only means they are sober asssholes.

I've heard that, and it certainly applies to some but not all. Ego deflation, eliminating self-seeking behavior and all that is seen as integral to recovery and is a big part of the program. But if I remember right you know this.

47. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 04:26 PM (#4121929)

Can't hate OCB. Sounds like his parental figures did a piss-poor job.

48. Bob Tufts Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:06 PM (#4122022)

From an April 15, 2007 Baltimore Sun article by David Steele - Boyd was not alone...

Here, in 1991, was Vince Coleman, on a night to honor the Negro leagues in New York, of all places: "I don't know nothing about no Jackie Robinson."

Two years earlier, a little over 40 years after Robinson broke baseball's color line, the now-defunct Sport magazine asked a number of black major leaguers what Robinson meant to them. Dave Henderson ("The success of Jackie Robinson is the reason why I wear his number") and Mel Hall ("Robinson is the reason why I'm here today. Robinson gave us equal opportunity in sports") got it. However ...

"Jackie Robinson? What year did he die? I wasn't old enough to remember him." (Phil Bradley)

"Sorry, I can't help you." (Ricky Jordan)

"I can't really say nothing about the guy because I never followed baseball. I just played the game." (Jerome Walton)

"I didn't follow Jackie Robinson's career." (Dwight Gooden)

And: "I don't know anything about Jackie Robinson." (Ken Griffey Jr.)

--

Per Coleman's comment, Rachel Robinson said "I hope somehow he'll learn and be embarrassed by his own ignorance."

49. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:02 PM (#4122051)

I didn't know that McNamara was a drunk, but I'm not surprised. Was Sammy Stewart on the '86 team? He was a crackhead, but I think he didn't start smoking until after his career.

50. Lassus Posted: May 02, 2012 at 08:33 PM (#4122146)

There's a saying in AA: when drunks or addicts who are asssholes quit drinking or using, that only means they are sober asssholes.

Like Mantle, right?

51. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 08:54 PM (#4122156)

Like anyone who was an alcoholic and an ####### (which is probably most alcoholics) who finally stopped drinking.

52. God Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:03 PM (#4122161)

Nobody except maybe his wife claimed Mantle was an ####### when drunk. He was one of these happy/mischievous drunks, not a mean drunk.

53. Morty Causa Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:25 PM (#4122178)

Well, you would know.

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‘Oil Can’ Boyd says he used crack entire ‘86 season

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