This “Oil Can” doesn’t need oil to shine. All he needs is a baseball. And a team. And if that team happens to include Marquis Grissom, and Delino DeShields and a dozen other of African-American players, all the better for Dennis ”Oil Can” Boyd.
A year ago when I last spoke with “Oil Can” before he pitched the home opener for the Independent League Brockton (Massachusetts) Rox, his body was about to take the mound, but his mind was elsewhere. His plan he told me, from behind diamond glittering eyes and thick glasses, was to spend the winter fielding a team in the spirit of the old Negro league barnstormers. The intent, he said, was to revitalize baseball in the inner cities, especially among black kids who have turned away from the national pastime.
I tried to turn his attention back to the ‘86 World Series and his dazzling performance against the Mets in the cold and drizzle of Fenway Park. But “The Can” would have none of it. He kept talking about the kids, bobbing his head the way he does, his two golden earrings keeping time.
So the triple play of Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, Marquis Grissom and Delino DeShields are now taking a positive strategy to revive baseball in the inner cities. Their plan is not only to succeed through the barnstorming tour – Oil Can Boyd’s Traveling All-Stars – but through their newly formed Urban Baseball League, which will begin 2008.
“When I was a kid, and I know that was some long time ago, every kid played baseball, country and city,” said Boyd. “I mean the black, kids, the white kids, it was baseball all the time, right up to the major leagues.”
Their plan is to also promote independent professional baseball in predominantly African-American cities with the model of the old Negro Leagues and the hopes that successful black community members will purchase franchises. In turn, inner-city kids will learn the game Boyd, Grissom, and DeShields can’t leave.
The big league numbers confirm the precipitous drop off in black players in the last two decades. Last season, only 8.4 percent of Major League players were African-American, almost a 10 percent drop from 10 years earlier – and nearly a 20 percent drop from the peak in the 1970s. The percentages taken through the years read like a reverse curve, with the present inching downward toward 1947 when Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Dodgers.
This summer’s barnstorming tour will include a multi-racial team of 21 players, including occasional appearances by Boyd’s former Red Sox team mate, 60 year-old Bill “Spaceman” Lee. Look for both Lee and Boyd on the mound when the team plays the Brockton Rox in Brockton, Massachusetts on May 16th, and I would not be surprised if Rox owner Bill Murray gets in on the act.
The team will sport uniforms reminiscent of those in the Negro Leagues and already have lined up exhibitions against many independent minor league baseball clubs. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan and Europe have expressed interest in the traveling baseball bonanza.
At somewhere between 45 and 50 – Boyd winks at questions about his age – “The Can” is still throwing hard. And like a contemporary Satchel Paige, he says he hopes to be buried under some pitcher’s mound. But not for a while. Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd still has work to do with that knee-buckling hook, and miles to go before he sleeps.
“Oil Can” Boyd and his barnstorming All-Stars will next play in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on June 19th at 7p.m. vs. Team USA at Wachonah Park. ESPN will be taping the game for future broadcast.
July 27th Delino DeShields and Oil Can Boyd will be keynote speakers at the 4th Annual Bobby Bonds Symposium in Montgomery Alabama
July 28th Delino DeShields and Oil Can Boyd will be guests of Jim Mudcat Grant’s BLACK ACES book signing at Alabama State.
July 29th The All Stars will be playing a double header against local Alabama all-stars at a site to be determined.
Good luck to “The Can” and be sure to share the schedule with your readers when it’s available.
Comment by Don41 — May 1, 2007 @ 9:02 am
I, as well,wish Mr.Boyd and the rest of his team the best of luck. I am looking quite forward to tracking their progress and I am elated about the emphasis, attention and respect for The Negro Leagues as well as the desire of attracting more youth of color into the wonderful world of BASEBALL!
Please try to post a schedule.
Comment by Ginni Walker — May 17, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
I would like to get in touch with Oil Can in regards to amatch. His website has a flaw in the e-mail response section. I manage a group of older ball players who remember the Expos from Jarry Park.
Comment by Braumeister Baseball Club — May 17, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Good luck, Can.
Please send info for spring,summer ‘07 games when it becimes available. I have found numerous sites,but all of the info was on games that already took place.
Comment by PHIL NIX — May 22, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Please contact Norman Yee at bopcan2314@aol.com for booking or information.
Comment by Norman Yee — May 25, 2007 @ 7:28 am
What is the schedule for the Traveling All Stars?
Comment by Alladice — June 17, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
“Oil Can” Boyd and his barnstorming All-Stars will next play in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on June 19th at 7p.m. vs. Team USA at Wachonah Park. ESPN will be taping the game for future broadcast.
July 27th Delino DeShields and Oil Can Boyd will be keynote speakers at the 4th Annual Bobby Bonds Symposium in Montgomery Alabama
July 28th Delino DeShields and Oil Can Boyd will be guests of Jim Mudcat Grant’s BLACK ACES book signing at Alabama State.
July 29th The All Stars will be playing a double header against local Alabama all-stars at a site to be determined.
Comment by John Budris — June 18, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I just became aware of this project recently and applaud Oil Can and Delino for starting this program. I coached Delino and Marquis in the Expo Minor league system and followed their major league careers. I am now dedicated to introducing baseball to an inner city program here in Sacramento called the OK (Our Kids) Program. This mentoring program consists of law enforcement, schools, community, and church all working together to address the high encarceration rate of young African American males. Now we are adding baseball to the program, which is now in Little Rock, Ark., Indianapolis, Ind., and Monroe, La. I would love to hear more about the Urban Baseball League. Good Luck.
With Regards,
Leon Lee
a.k.a. Derrek Lee’s Dad
Comment by Leon Lee — October 12, 2007 @ 2:47 am
My name is Brandon White, and I am a 28 year old African-American male who lives in Columbus, Ohio. I played baseball in college, and truly love the game, and I am so happy to hear that we have some men that want tackle the issue of bringing this glorious game back into the black community. I would like to be somewhat involved, and if there is anything I could help with or do, please do not hesitate to reach me. I want to go back to school and study sports management, in hopes one day becoming a minority exexutive in the game I have so much passion for. I also want to help kids in teaching them about the game of baseball so they can hopefully one day have the same zest I do about this grand old game. I started working for a bank here in Columbus so I could somehow get my foot in the door in some sort of management training, beacuse I want very much to be successful where I dont see minorities in the game today: In the front office. Please, dont hesitate to contact me, and I hope to hear from somebody soon.
Regards,
Brandon White
Comment by Brandon White — October 17, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Does Oil Can and his crew intend on continuing with the worthy project in 2008. African-Americans are falling from the ranks of MLB rosters at an alarming rate. The reality of it is instead of producing baseball players the inner cities are producing “failed” basketball point guards instead. It’s a shame.
The North Shore Spirit, based at Frasier Field in Lynn, MA, has folded. It’s a nice park and close to Boyd’s home in R.I., perhaps some games can be scheduled there for 2008?
Thanks
Keith Collins
Comment by Keith Collins — November 3, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Will someone have Oil Can call me as I am interested in being a corporate sponsor / General Manager for a team.
Joe Fasone
203-772-5712
yourfamilysrealtor@yahoo.com
Comment by Fasone, Joe — November 7, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
I wish Oil Can the very best. Our outreach program is reaching out to inner city boys and girls with the help of current and former players from high school to the big leagues. We have had great success in the Tulsa, OK area and will be reaching out to other inner city areas in the future. Baseball is a great tool to reach the many boys and girls that are missing a father and many are missing mom and dad. It is so important that current and former major leaguers stay involved in their communities to reach out to the kids to provide them a relationship that they might not otherwise have. Our problem is finding African American players to attend our events. Sometimes I think our perception after a baseball clinic is that it is a white man’s sport. I hope and pray to find more African American players and coaches to get involved in the future. I have seen so many great athletes in our inner cities that just need a chance and most importantly more positive choices than the few they think they have.
Comment by Jerry Jacobson WBO — November 22, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Dennis Oil Can boyd. Next year I’m raising funds for my baseball team and it would be great if my team got a chance to play in a exibition with your team. Call me @ 435-787-4981. I have some easy ways to help your team raise $ for your team. Dustin Fonnesbeck
Comment by Dustin Fonnesbeck — July 9, 2008 @ 1:46 am