Card Corner--Boog Powell

Boog Powell--Topps Company--1973 (No. 325)

Although Boog Powell was surprisingly nimble and surehanded as a first baseman, it's at the plate where he is most remembered. On his 1973 Topps card, he holds the bat high, regally concluding one of his Ruthian swings. (If you've ever seen his 1974 Topps card, you'll notice the subtle bending of the bat, a common trait amongst power hitters with high bat speed.)Other than Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey and Willie Stargell, no left-handed hitter of that era was more fear inspiring while pawing in the batter's box or hitting home runs of tape-measure dimensions. (Tony Oliva, Billy Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski were better all-around hitters than Powell, but none really struck fear in the hearts of pitchers, first basemen, and second basemen the way that Boog did.) At a time when no players lifted weights and 200-pound players could scarcely be found, the hulking Powell weighed 250 pounds by the most conservative of estimates, helping him carve out a niche of sheer intimidation at the plate.

As much as Powell looked like an angry behemoth swinging a large club, his personality ran to the other extreme of the spectrum. Affable and good-natured both on the field and away from the ballpark, Powell became known as a kind of smiling giant who liked to laugh and have fun. He rarely argued with umpires or exchanged angry words with opponents. His jovial personality only helped him during his postseason days, when he became a staple of the legendary Miller Lite television commercials and later opened up "Boog's Barbecue" stand outside of Camden Yards.

Powell could also be mischievous, in the way that he joked and played pranks on others. In fact, that's how he obtained the nickname "Boog." As a child, John Wesley Powell sometimes misbehaved, leading his parents to say, "What's that little booger up to now?" Booger eventually was shortened to Boog, giving Powell his memorable moniker.

Although he was often overshadowed by the Robinsons (Brooks and Frank), Jim Palmer, and Earl Weaver, and has never received serious consideration for the Hall of Fame, Powell has achieved iconic status in Baltimore. It's partly because of his performance--he did win American League MVP honors in 1970--in part because of his sense of humor, and partly because of that great nickname. While few would remember someone by the name of John Wesley Powell, they all seem to remember the burly slugger named Boog.