Dave Boswell, former pitcher mostly for the Twins, died Monday night of a heart attack. Rob Neyer relates how Billy Martin worked Dave to his greatest season, 1969.
In early August, Billy Martin beat the hell out of Dave Boswell. Both were probably drunK. Martin would later explain that he didn’t have any choice, but of course that’s what Martin said about all his fights. The fisticuffs didn’t play real well in the press or in the owner’s suite, but one source does say that when Boswell recorded his 20th win, the first thing he did was kiss Billy Martin on the forehead.
All those bone chips and all those innings might have taken their toll, though. According to one account, Boswell actually hurt his arm in the 10th inning of that ALCS game. In 1970 — with Martin having been fired, by the way — Boswell managed only 69 innings, with a ghastly 6.42 ERA. He would manage only 69 innings in 1971, in stints with the Tigers and Orioles, and then was finished at 26.
Boswell was a pretty good strikeout pitcher for his day, averaging 7.5 per nine for his career.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Boswell was one of my favorites when I was a kid, for no particular reason I can remember now. Sad news.
My prayers and thoughts go out to the Boswell family. Played with Dave from 1960-63 on Calvert Hall’s MSA championship team. He was ths best BB player I ever played with, not only a great pitcher but an outstanding hitter and CF. It’s a shame that he hurt his arm in that great pitching classic with McNally. I really think he could have been one of the best ever.
John Turwy