Former Twins Pitcher Dave Boswell Passes Away at 67

Dave Boswell won 20 games for the Minnesota Twins in 1969, but he is likely remembered for something else that happened to him that year.

Last night, Bert Blyleven tweeted, "Just heard the sad news about the passing of Twins great Dave Boswell. Everyone that knew him will remember his love for his wife Lou & life."

Dave Boswell was born in Maryland in January of 1945. He passed away yesterday at the age of 67. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Boswell signed with the Twins as an 18 year old in 1963 for $15,000. In September of 1964, he made four starts for the Twins. In the Twins 1965 season, he pitched 106 innings for the Twins, making 12 starts and 15 appearances out of the bullpen. He worked 2.2 innings out of the bullpen for the Twins in the 1965 World Series.

The next four seasons (1966-1969), Boswell was remarkably consistent. His ERAs were between 3.14 and 3.32. His WHIP was between 1.09 and 1.24. Combined those seasons, he went 56-42 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

It culminated with his 1969 season in which he went 20-12 with a 3.23 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. As a 24 year old that season, he threw 256.1 innings. He took the loss in his one start in the 1969 ALCS. In that game, he gave up one run in 10.2 innings.

However, he is best known for getting punched by his manager, Billy Martin, outside a bar in Detroit.

Whether is was that event, or the 256.1 innings, Boswell never was the same afterwards. He threw just 68.2 innings in 1970 (and walked 44 and struck out 45) for the Twins and went 3-7. Following the season, the Twins released him.

He signed with the Tigers in April of 1971 and pitched in just three games before being released. The Orioles signed him quickly, but he walked 15 and struck out 14 in 24.2 innings. Following the season, the O's released Boswell, and he didn't play in the big leagues again.