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The Baltimore Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week is the first in a long line of great first basemen for the Baltimore Orioles. The first player in the modern history of the Baltimore Orioles to hit over .300 in a season, Bob Boyd was a solid line-drive hitter and defensive standout.

A member of the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro Leagues from 1947-1949, Boyd became the first black player to sign with the Chicago White Sox in 1950 and made his major league debut in 1951 at the age of 31. He joined the Orioles in 1956 and in his first season with the Orioles played in 70 games and hit .311. Unlike some of the great first basemen that would follow him in Baltimore, Boyd was not known as a power hitter. Nicknamed ôRopeö for his line drive hitting, Boyd had only ...

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Article written by Dean Hybl