Oil Can Boyd used crack cocaine...

[zjcvols]

for the entire 1986 season

Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd says he used crack entire '86 season - ESPN Boston

[GAVol]

Given the time, that doesn't shock me at all.

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.

This reminds me of the story about Tim Raines sliding head first because he had a cocaine vial in his back pocket that he didn't want to break.

[zjcvols]

Doesn't me either, but shows the culture.

Most damning thing was that he was never tested.

[Vercingetorix]

Oil Can was great. One of my favorites. This does nothing to change my opinion of him.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by zjcvols

Most damning thing was that he was never tested.

I know people say this all the time . . . but it was just a completely different time.

[zjcvols]

Originally Posted by GAVol

I know people say this all the time . . . but it was just a completely different time.

It's always funny to kind of look back at things from then and now. I mean, if someone was using crack cocaine every game today, it'd be the biggest story in sports.

[slh1089]

Ohhh, the good ol' days

[_vol]

There were so many homeless-looking drug addicts playing ball in the 80s and 90s and then there's the Padre uniforms of the early 80s. The hair styles, horrible sun glasses, golden trans ams, hairspray, spandex uniforms, synth-based hand clapping in stadiums... It all makes sense now.

Thank you Dale Murphy for keeping it real.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by zjcvols

It's always funny to kind of look back at things from then and now. I mean, if someone was using crack cocaine every game today, it'd be the biggest story in sports.

Oh it would have been news then too. It's just drugs like that were new on the scene and rampant.

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by zjcvols

It's always funny to kind of look back at things from then and now. I mean, if someone was using crack cocaine every game today, it'd be the biggest story in sports.

It wasn't just middling guys like Oil Can. Dwight Gooden missed the Mets' victory parade in 1986 because of a drug binge. He watched it on a TV in a crackhouse surrounded by guys who didn't even know who he was.

I don't know quite know how to convey to a young guy like you what the world missed out on thanks to Gooden's drug and arm problems. Best fastball I've ever seen. Best curveball I've ever seen. In 1985 people talked about how he had a chance to become the greatest pitcher of all time, and for once it wasn't an exaggeration.

[Spartacavolus]

Can't remember who, but one player confessed to either acid or x when he threw a no hitter. He must have felt like he was in the Matrix.

[005]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

It wasn't just middling guys like Oil Can. Dwight Gooden missed the Mets' victory parade in 1986 because of a drug binge. He watched it on a TV in a crackhouse surrounded by guys who didn't even know who he was.

I don't know quite know how to convey to a young guy like you what the world missed out on thanks to Gooden's drug and arm problems. Best fastball I've ever seen. Best curveball I've ever seen. In 1985 people talked about how he had a chance to become the greatest pitcher of all time, and for once it wasn't an exaggeration.

He was untouchable from day one. First season he had a 2.60 era and struck out 11.39 per 9. Second season, 1.53 era and struck out 8.72 per 9.

His first two seasons were age 19 and 20. He amassed 8.6 and 9.0 WAR.

For perspective, Verlander last year had a 7.0 WAR season.

[Vercingetorix]

It was pretty much just two pitches. He had a 98 mph-ish rising fastball that he would use to walk hitters up the ladder until they were swinging at pitches at eye level. And he had a kneebuckling 12-to-6 curve that he could throw for strikes. It was almost unfair when coupled with the fastball.

The Mets helped screw him up too, as I remember. They decided after 1985 that he was throwing too many pitches (true), so they thought the best way to handle it wasn't to just take him out of games earlier, but to have him try to pitch to contact more and stop striking so many guys out. It didn't work out too well. Then he got arm trouble, and then he had a lot of free time while he was hurt, which he filled up with a drug habit, and that was pretty much it for Dwight Gooden. A giant shame, even if he was a Met.

[slh1089]

Originally Posted by Spartacavolus

Can't remember who, but one player confessed to either acid or x when he threw a no hitter. He must have felt like he was in the Matrix.

Forgot who it was but he played for San Fran and it was acid. He said the baseball would go from a golf ball to a beach ball in his hand. He also said the entire game that the ball was leaving vapor trails everywhere.

[OrangeWilly]

Crack is whack.