Dave Boswell – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dave Boswell spent eight years in Major League Baseball, and his story is one of raw talent, tough breaks, and a little bit of chaos. Born in Baltimore in 1945, Boswell jumped into the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins at just 19. He quickly became a central figure in their rotation during the team’s late-1960s surge.

Boswell hit his peak in 1969, winning 20 games for the Twins and helping them snag the American League West title. But by 1971, arm injuries had basically ended his career. His rise from a high school phenom to a 20-game winner, and then to retirement at only 26, kind of sums up how brutal pitching at that level can be.

Boswell’s journey started in Baltimore’s scrappy amateur baseball scene. He moved quickly through the Twins system, racking up some wild on-field moments and a few off-field stories that made him one of the more memorable guys in the game back then.

His path from rookie to veteran shows just how many ups and downs pro pitchers faced during baseball’s expansion era in the ’60s and early ’70s.

Early Life and Entry Into Baseball

Dave Boswell was born on January 20, 1945, in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents worked hard and backed his baseball dreams from the start.

He showed off serious pitching skills at Calvert Hall College High School. Scouts from every major league team came to watch before he eventually signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1963.

Family Background and Education

David Wilson Boswell grew up on the east side of Baltimore, surrounded by family and neighbors who looked out for each other. His dad, Grover W. “Buck” Boswell, worked at a steel mill as a pit crane operator. His mom was Marceline Boswell.

Buck Boswell had boxed as an amateur heavyweight. He taught Dave the basics of baseball when Dave was just a kid, maybe eight or nine.

Baltimore buzzed with great amateur baseball in the 1950s and early ’60s. Dave learned from some of the city’s best coaches as he sharpened his game.

At 14, he pitched and played outfield for coach Sterling “Sheriff” Fowble. Fowble’s team, Gordon’s Stores, had already produced Al Kaline.

Dave went to Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland. The school’s strong baseball program gave him a stage to show off his abilities.

High School Career and Scouting Attention

Boswell racked up an amazing 28-2 record at Calvert Hall. Scouts from all over the country took notice.

He played for a sandlot team called Leone’s, coached by Walter Youse. Youse also scouted for the Baltimore Orioles.

Youse knew how to get players noticed by major league clubs. Thanks to him, Boswell got a real shot at pro baseball.

By his senior year, people whispered he could be the next $100,000 bonus baby. Every major league scout seemed to be watching.

Orioles president Lee MacPhail once said, “We ranked [Boswell] and Wally Bunker as the best pitching prospects in the country.”

Boswell was so advanced, he threw batting practice for the Orioles at just 14. He even had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates at 15.

During that Pirates tryout, reliever Elroy Face taught him to throw a forkball. But then an arm injury in his senior year scared off a lot of teams.

Signing with the Minnesota Twins

Boswell’s arm injury during his senior year took a big chunk out of his signing bonus. Teams that once seemed eager faded away.

He could’ve signed as an outfielder, but he didn’t. Instead, he went back to play for Leone’s after graduating in 1963.

He wanted to prove his arm was fine and that he could still pitch. That was his focus.

By late summer 1963, his patience finally paid off. Twins scout Ed Dunn pushed for the team to sign the 18-year-old.

The Minnesota Twins signed him as an amateur free agent. He got a bonus somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000.

It wasn’t the $100,000 people talked about before his injury, but it was enough to chase his pro baseball dreams.

In 2014, Boswell got some long-overdue recognition. He made the 1960-2009 All-Baltimore Amateur Team, a nod to his impact on the city’s baseball scene.

MLB Career Highlights and Achievements

Dave Boswell’s eight years in the majors had some real highlight moments. That 20-win season in 1969 and his World Series appearance in 1965 pretty much stand out as the high points.

Breakthrough Seasons with the Minnesota Twins

Boswell debuted on September 18, 1964, for the Twins, just 19 years old. He didn’t waste time earning his spot as a reliable AL pitcher.

His breakout came in 1966 with a 12-5 record. That .706 winning percentage led the American League.

The young righty kept getting better with Minnesota. Over eight seasons, he struck out 882 batters.

He finished with 68 wins and 56 losses. His 3.52 ERA shows how solid he was, especially considering the competition.

1965 World Series Performance

Boswell made the Twins’ World Series roster in 1965, only his second year in the majors. The team faced the Dodgers.

The Twins didn’t win, but Boswell’s presence on the roster showed how quickly he’d developed. He helped them get the AL pennant.

That World Series gave him some valuable experience. It was definitely a career highlight.

1969 Season and 20-Game Win Milestone

In 1969, Boswell put up his best numbers, winning 20 games. It was the only time he hit that milestone.

His pitching helped the Twins win the AL West division. They moved on to the AL Championship Series against the Orioles.

During that series, Boswell lost a heartbreaking 1-0 game in 11 innings to Dave McNally. Even with that tough loss, he’d pitched well all year.

Sadly, Boswell hurt his arm during that championship game. He threw a slider to strike out Frank Robinson in the 10th, and his shoulder just couldn’t take it. That injury basically ended his prime.

Pitching Style and Statistics

Dave Boswell finished his career with 68 wins and 56 losses in 232 games over eight MLB seasons. His right-handed delivery and competitive streak made him a notable starter, especially during his best years with the Twins.

Pitch Arsenal and Approach

Boswell threw right-handed and stood 6-3, which gave him good leverage. His overhand delivery helped him get pretty good velocity on his fastball.

He leaned on his fastball most of the time. His curveball was his go-to pitch when he needed a strikeout.

Boswell liked to go right after hitters, not mess around the edges of the strike zone. This aggressive approach sometimes led to control problems, and his walk totals show it.

His teammates often talked about his fire. Tony Oliva once said, “Bos was such a great competitor,” and that intensity was obvious every time he pitched.

Career Strikeouts, Wins, and Standout Games

Boswell had his best years with Minnesota from 1964 to 1970. He broke in at 19 in 1964, winning his first two decisions.

He really peaked in 1969, starting Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against Baltimore. That playoff start was the biggest moment of his career.

He won 68 games in the majors. His strikeouts made him a valuable asset, though records sometimes list different totals.

In 1971, his last year, Boswell bounced between Detroit and Baltimore. He pitched 18 games that season, and his performance varied quite a bit depending on the ballpark.

Batting as a Pitcher

Boswell, like most pitchers then, had to hit now and then. He didn’t do much at the plate, which wasn’t surprising for an AL starter.

He got a few at-bats in interleague play and certain game situations. His batting average was nowhere near what you’d expect from a position player.

His last game came on September 17, 1971, against Detroit. He pitched one inning, gave up a hit, struck out one, and didn’t allow any walks or runs.

Notable Incidents and Relationships

Dave Boswell’s career wasn’t short on drama. His most famous dust-up involved manager Billy Martin, and he also had a front-row seat to a perfect game and a crushing playoff injury.

Fight with Bob Allison and Billy Martin

The wildest moment of Boswell’s career happened in August 1969 at the Lindell A.C. bar in Detroit. He got into it with teammate Bob Allison—tempers flared over team issues and personal stuff that had been simmering.

Manager Billy Martin showed up to break it up. Instead, things got even more heated between Martin and Boswell.

Words turned into shoves, then punches. Martin, despite being smaller, dropped Boswell with a single punch. Boswell hit the floor and needed medical help.

What happened next was kind of unexpected. The fight didn’t split the team; instead, it seemed to clear the air. Boswell and Martin patched things up, and Boswell went on to have his best season ever, winning 20 games and helping the Twins take the AL West.

Catfish Hunter’s Perfect Game

On May 8, 1968, Boswell was the losing pitcher when Catfish Hunter threw a perfect game at Oakland Coliseum. The Twins lost 4-0 to the A’s in that historic matchup.

Boswell pitched well enough to keep Minnesota in it, but Hunter just couldn’t be touched that day. The A’s ace retired all 27 batters, becoming only the ninth modern pitcher to throw a perfect game.

The loss stung, especially since Boswell was dealing with arm issues all season. He didn’t get any run support, and Hunter was just on another level.

That game became one of the most unforgettable (and frustrating) regular-season losses of Boswell’s career. It forever linked his name to one of baseball’s rarest feats.

American League Championship Series Injury

The 1969 American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles really marked the beginning of the end for Boswell’s promising career.

In Game Two, he suffered a brutal arm injury that basically took away his ability to pitch at the major league level.

Boswell pitched in a tense 1-0 loss to the Orioles when he suddenly felt something snap in his throwing arm.

The injury happened right when things should’ve been going his way, as the Twins made their first playoff run since 1965.

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Boswell had just wrapped up his best season with 20 wins, and folks saw him as one of the guys who could get Minnesota to the World Series.

Instead, that arm injury started his rapid decline.

After that, Boswell managed just four more wins in his career.

He struggled through 1970, posting a rough 6.39 ERA, and the Twins released him.

He tried to catch on with the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles in 1971, but nothing really clicked, and he retired at 26 with a 68-56 record.

Later Career and Retirement in 1971

Dave Boswell’s final season in professional baseball was tough.

He bounced between the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles after the Twins let him go in spring training.

His arm problems, which had dogged him for years, finally ended his career at just 26.

Stints with Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles

The Twins cut Boswell during spring training in 1971.

He quickly signed with the Detroit Tigers and reunited with his old manager Billy Martin.

That stint with Detroit didn’t last long.

Boswell just wasn’t the same pitcher who’d won 20 games two years before.

His fastball lost its edge, and the arm troubles from 1969 kept holding him back.

The Tigers released him during the season, and then Boswell signed with the Baltimore Orioles, so he got a shot to play close to home.

His time with Baltimore was short too.

By then, he had played for three AL teams in his last year.

Boswell pitched his final game on September 17, 1971, against Detroit.

He threw one inning, gave up one hit, and struck out a batter.

He finished his eight-year career with 68 wins and 56 losses.

Retirement Due to Injury

Boswell retired at 26, and that arm injury from the 1969 AL Championship Series was the main reason.

He hurt himself during that crucial 1-0 loss to Baltimore in Game Two.

After that playoff game, he just never got back to his old self.

He won four more games after that big 1969 season.

The arm issues that had bothered him for years finally became too much.

He had averaged 14 wins and 210 innings from 1966 to 1969.

But he couldn’t recapture that form, and the Twins let him go, with Detroit and Baltimore not working out either.

By 1971, it was obvious his arm just couldn’t handle the grind anymore.

Instead of dragging it out, Boswell decided to retire, even though most pitchers are just getting started at that age.

Legacy, Personal Reflections, and Life After Baseball

Dave Boswell’s career ended suddenly at 26, but he left his mark on the Minnesota Twins and made a big impression with his personality.

After retiring in 1971, he stayed connected to baseball, telling stories and keeping a pretty forgiving attitude about the past.

Player Legacy and Influence

Boswell played a big part in Twins history.

He helped them win their first division title in 1969, when they took the American League West.

His best year was 1969, with 20 wins and 256 innings pitched.

He was part of a really strong rotation that season.

Boswell finished with 68 wins over eight seasons.

He pitched in 205 games and started 151 times in the majors.

Career Highlights:

• 20-win season in 1969
• Led the American League in winning percentage in 1966
• Helped the Twins win their first division title
• Pitched over 900 innings before turning 25

Back problems, probably from all those early innings, cut his career short.

Still, even with a brief run, Boswell stayed an important figure in Twins history.

Life in Retirement and Later Years

After baseball, Boswell settled in Maryland, not far from Baltimore.

He became known for sharing stories and memories from his playing days.

People who knew him said he was quite a character.

He loved chatting about baseball with anyone who’d listen.

Post-Baseball Life:

• Lived in Joppatowne, Maryland
• Famous for telling baseball stories
• Kept a positive outlook on his career

Boswell showed a lot of forgiveness toward Billy Martin, his old manager.

Even after their infamous 1969 bar fight—Boswell ended up unconscious and needed 20 stitches—he later said, “I love Billy,” when someone asked about Martin in a 1988 interview.

That kind of forgiveness stuck with people.

He could’ve held a grudge, but Boswell chose not to.

Death and Tributes

Dave Boswell died of a heart attack at his home in Joppatowne, Maryland on June 11, 2012. He was 67.

His passing reminded people of a player many younger fans have probably never heard of. Some baseball writers pointed out that, even if he slipped out of the spotlight, Boswell still deserved a bit of recognition for what he gave to the game.

Final Years:

• Died: June 11, 2012
• Cause: Heart attack
• Age: 67
• Location: Joppatowne, Maryland home

Tributes called out his place in Twins history and the kind of person he was off the field. Writers often described his forgiving spirit and love for storytelling, saying those traits made him stand out in ways stats just can’t.

Not many current fans know his name, honestly. But the folks who do remember him talk about a player who really mattered during his short, memorable run with the Minnesota Twins.