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| Today’s Boswell’s autograph is tighter. |
Minnesota Twins pitcher Dave Boswell could have been neither.
I asked him about joining the Twins, as well as his success at bat. He added a couple of startling tidbits concerning what might have been.
First, I asked how owner Calvin Griffith was upon signing his first contract.
“Tom, tell you what — I got $15,000 and a new car. It wasn’t that hard getting it from Mr. Griffith.
Had the same offer from the Yankees.”
I pointed out that the designated hitter rule wasn’t suited for pitchers like Boswell. He had 74 career hits, four of them home runs! He replied:
“I signed as a pitcher and outfielder. Loved to play every day.”
One explanation for Boswell’s mound success, four straight years of double-digit wins (culminating in a 20-win season in 1969) could be Minnesota pitching coach Johnny Sain. How did Sain help?
“John was great at explaining situations to you. All of a sudden, you would find yourself in that position and you knew what to do.”
Twins fans, send your thanks to this might-have-been Yankees outfielder now. My reply ended with…
“Been very ill lately. Sorry it took so long.
Dave Boswell”
Coming Thursday: My “10 Most Wanted List” — Phillies Edition.
Did Dave’s uncle, Julian L. Boswell aka “Tim” have anything to do with Dave not signing with the Yankees? Tim played minor league baseball in the 1920s and 1930s.