Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd

[webfoot]

BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) -- The "Can Opener" made it.

Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd earned a roster spot with the Brockton Rox and signed with the minor league team on Monday, extending his attempt at a big league comeback 14 years after he left the majors. He is scheduled to start for the Rox against the Worcester Tornadoes on May 30 -- his first professional outing since 1997.

"He pitched seven scoreless innings in the exhibition season and deserved to make the team," Rox owner Van Schley said.

The 45-year-old Boyd pitched 10 years in the majors before blood clots in his right arm ended his career. He had 13 complete games for Boston in 1985, was 16-10 in '86 and went 10-6 with a 2.93 ERA with Montreal in 1990.

Boyd was 78-77 in the majors overall. But he also had a colorful lifestyle and quotable outlook that made him memorable long after his career ended.

Boyd made a variety of low-level minor league stops but aborted his first comeback attempt in 1997. He said last week that his goal is to return to Fenway Park and pitch for the Red Sox.

"I'll go to Pawtucket for a couple hours," he said of Boston's Triple-A team, "and then let's go get the Yankees."

[weimhunter]

I may be wrong, but isnt he from the great state of MISSISSIPPI!

[webfoot]

Meridian.