Boog Powell
Four-time All-Star and 1970 AL MVP who anchored the Orioles dynasty.
John Wesley "Boog" Powell (born August 17, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder, most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1966 and 1971. The four-time All-Star led the American League in 1964 with a .606 slugging percentage and won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1970. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1979, Powell was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.
Quick Facts
- All-star selections
- 4
- Career home runs
- 339
Lore & Background
Powell was born in Lakeland, Florida on August 17, 1941. He played for that city's team in the 1954 Little League World Series. After his family moved to Key West when he was 15, Powell played at Key West High School and graduated in 1959. He led Key West to a state championship. Powell received the nickname "Boog" from his father. As Powell explained, "In the South they call little kids who are often getting into mischief buggers (pronounced 'boogers'), and my dad shortened it to Boog."
Reader's Guide
In a 17-season career, Powell posted a .266 batting average with 339 home runs, 1,187 runs batted in, a .462 slugging percentage and a .361 on-base percentage in 2,042 games. Powell hit three home runs in a game three times, and stands third only behind Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. on the all-time home run list of the Orioles. In 1983, Powell received five votes for the Hall of Fame (1.3% of all Baseball Writers' Association of America voters) in his only appearance on the ballot.
Did You Know?
- Powell was signed by the Orioles after a coin flip between the Orioles and Cardinals, with the Orioles winning the flip.
- Powell and the Dodgers' Jim Barbieri were the first players to have played in both the Little League World Series and MLB World Series.
- Powell won the American League Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1966.
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