Baltimore Orioles All-Time Best Rule 5 Draft Picks
By Ben Palmer
4. Bob Boyd – Selected from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955
Bob Boyd did one thing and he did it exceptionally well: he hit the ball. The Baltimore Orioles weren’t a great team in their first few years of existence, but Bob Boyd was a definite highlight on the team.
Earning the nickname “Rope” for his ability to hit line drives, Boyd batted .311, .318, and .309 in his first three seasons with the Orioles.
His best season came in 1957 when he batted .318/.388/.408 with 4 HRs, 73 R, and 34 RBIs and finished 16th in the AL MVP voting. I should also mention that, in 1957, Boyd was 37 years old, which makes it even more impressive.
Boyd has an interesting backstory. He came from the Negro Leagues and was a World War II veteran. He was also the first African American player to sign with the Chicago White Sox, the team that he started his career with.
Boyd never stopped hitting, finishing his career in the MLB as a .293/.349/.388 hitter over the course of his nine seasons in the league.