By Jeff Stuart
Dick Bosman could pitch. Consider for a minute that he finished with the lowest ERA, 2.19. in the American League in 1969. Am achievement under appreciated in Washington and elsewhere I think. Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar of the Orioles finished 2nd and third respectively. Cuellar won the Cy Young based on 23 wins.
Bos won 14 games that year and lost only 5. That team finished 10 games over .500. “Bosman has become Ted Williams best bet to pitch a winning game,” wrote Columnist Shirley Povich. He won an astounding 16 games in 1970 for a team that won only 70 games. On Thursday, September 17, 1970, Bosman claimed his 16th win and became the Senator’s winning-est pitcher in 11 years, shutting out Baltimore, 2-0, and holding the Orioles to 5 hits.
“This guy knows how to pitch,” said catcher Paul Casanova. “He was sharp. His slider was his best pitch and his fastball was sinking. “This is one of the greatest thrills of my career,” said Bosman, “especially winning in that way — on a shutout and on a night when I had my good stuff. I felt I was in control all the way.” It was his second shut out of the year and his 7th complete game. The loser was Cuellar on a night when the Orioles officially clinched the AL East pennant because New York lost.There was champagne in the visitors dugout. Bos deserved a bottle of his own. Pitching coach Sid Hudson visited the mound after two lead-off singles in the top of the 9th. “I didn’t think for a moment I was coming out,” he said.”He just reminded me to keep the ball down.” He did, inducing a double play, the Nats third of the evening, to end the game. Camilo Pascual won 17 games for the earlier version of the franchise in 1959.
Bosman earlier that year pitched a one hitter at Minnesota in August, facing only 29 batters.
At the end of the 1967 season, Bosman was the team’s best pitcher, winning three of four starts and compiling an ERA of just 1.76. In February of 1968 the 6’3″ 200 pound pitcher signed a$20,000 contract. GM George Selkirk did make the Kenosha, WI native promise to stop drag racing and motorcycle racing though. He once drove a car at 187 miles per hour. Bosman continued to hunt and ski mobile in winter though. “I plan to make good in baseball,” he said. “I don’t want to sound conceited. But I don’t see how I can miss staying the the big leagues now,” he told Bob Addie of the Post. I have always had a good sinker and slider. And I developed a curve ball in Hawaii. That really helped. I am going to work on my change up when i get to Florida. With all the experience I have gained, I think i will be hanging around the Majors for a while.”
On May 2, 1969. at 25 years of age, Dick hurled a one hitter against the Indians, posting a 5-0 shutout. The one hit was single to left by Tony Horton in the 4th. “The 13,649 fans cheered their heads off for Bosman when he came to bat in the 8th,” wrote the Post George Minot. “They were honoring him not only for his brilliant pitching performance but also for his bases loaded single in the 4th that sealed the fate of Indian’s starter Luis Tiant. Bosman threw only 108 pitches. “A masterpiece,”Said Coach Hudson. “A man can’t pitch much better than that.” Manager Ted Williams said afterward, “Bosman is gaining more confidence. He’s beginning to realize there is more to pitching than just rearing up and throwing the ball. And he is not giving away his pitches like before.” It was the 8th victory in 9 starts for the Nats. “These guys are playing terrific,” said the Manager. “And the fans have been terrific. I never heard 13,000 make so much noise.”
Newcomer and former 30 game winner Denny McLain was reportedly perturbed to lose the 1971 opening day assignment to Bosman. “Competition is good for everybody,” said Manager Williams. “It is good for Denny to want to start on opening day. But Bosman was just as determined.These guys should have goals. Everyone should have a goal.” The Nats 8-0 win over the A’s and Vida Blue on opening day justified Williams decision. Bos pitched a complete game shut out allowing just 6 hits.
On July 19, 1974 Bos, now pitching for Cleveland, no hit the visiting A’s 4-0, and would have had a perfect game if not for his own error fielding a bunt by Sal Bando with 2 outs in the 4th. His throw pulled Tommy McCraw off the bag. Bosman walked none and struck out four on the night.
in October 1975 Bos was dealt by the Indians to the Oakland A’s, the very team he no hit the year before. He had spent 9 seasons with the Senators, Rangers, and Indians, bad teams. “It wasn’t even like being the in the Major Leagues,” he told the Post’s Robert Fachet. “Year after year after year, it dragged me down… the defeatism, the negative comments in the dugout.” So he was happy to join the contending A’s. “Hello, I’m Dick Bosman. I’ll do anything,” were his first words to his new teammates. Bosman won 11 games to help Oakland to a division title
In April 1977, the frustrated last ace of the Washington Senators, quit the game in a salary dispute. ” I had three straight winning seasons and a good spring,” he told the Post’s Tom Boswell. .”I worked for 10 years to bring my salary up. I am disappointed and disillusioned. I have lost my heart for the game.” After being unconditionally released by the A’s, Bosman was offered a contract by the Chicago Cubs but would have had to take a 40.000 pay cut.
A fierce competitor,Bos ranted at his teammates when they started to struggle late in the 1970 season, suffering a 14 game losing streak. “Some of my teammates are lying down on the job,” he told George Minot. “They know who they are. They don’t give a damn.” Bos always gave a damn. He started the final game in Washington on September 30,1971. And after fans stormed the field with two out in the ninth and the Senators holding a 7-5 lead over the Yankees thanks in part to a Frank Howard homer in the 6th, Bosman, with other security measures lacking, tried unsuccessfully to persuade people to return to their seats. He wanted to win that final game for the fans.
Dick Bosman, the Opening Day starter, was the team’s best pitcher and, like most of the players, loved playing and living in the Washington area. His wife is from from Fairfax. That’s where they were lived that final season. After retiring, he served as a pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox (1986–87), Rochester Red Wings (1988–91), Baltimore Orioles (1992–94), Texas Rangers (1995–2000), and he has been a coach in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system since 2002.
