Unmistakable body profile…blonde hair plus rotund
build at 6’ 4” 200lbs….but oh so much more….at the turnover of the decade was
in elite company of Frank Howard, Reggie, and Harmon in power and run production… Younger
than his two of those peers, Boog takes on big league pitching starting 1962…hits .240
in 400 at bats….improves the next two campaigns….drew kudos for 1964 when he
hit 39 home runs, produced 99 RBIs, hit .290….runner up to Killebrew’s 49…..what
transpires afterward are years of varying success; reprises his ‘64 numbers in ’66
yet other year represent fair but unspectacular numbers….Boog offensively bounces
back in 1969…second in RBI’s again short of Killebrew with 121….Boog continues
his hitting ways in 1970 with an all around performance that earned MVP honors…tPaired
with Frank Robinson and flanked by Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair to form the
nucleus of the Oriole run production….1971 follow up was marked by a slow start
resulting in 50 point drop in BA….subsequent year show slight decline…..Orioles
going with youth trade Boog to the Indians reuniting him with newly named
skipper Frank Robinson….Boog responds with the best numbers in several years
nearly reaching the .300 mark…took comeback player of year honors….especially merit
worthy was his .297 BA representative of his prime years in Baltimore….played
one more year in Cleveland and then one for the Dodgers….Interesting fact was
step brother to Pirate/Royal Carl Taylor….multiple endeavors after playing….owned
a marina…joined the Miller Lite “Tastes Great, Less Filling” crew….proudly
associated with Baltimore opened Boog’s Corner Barbeque stand in right field
stands of Candem Yards.
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