Boog Powell
A mountain of a man with a sweet swing, he was the fearsome slugging heart of the Baltimore Orioles' dominant teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Born 1941 (age 85)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 17·The Silent Generation
Biography
John Wesley 'Boog' Powell wasn't just a power hitter; he was a physical presence, a 6'4", 240-pound force who anchored the middle of the Orioles' lineup during their golden era. Signed out of high school, Powell honed his craft in the minors before breaking out as the American League's premier slugger in the mid-60s. His 1970 MVP season was a masterpiece of consistency and power, driving in 114 runs and clubbing 35 homers for a pennant-winning team. Beyond the stats, Powell was a fan favorite, his jovial demeanor belying the intimidation he caused in the batter's box. After his playing days, he became a beloved fixture at Camden Yards, famously serving up barbecue at Boog's BBQ, ensuring his legacy is as much about his connection to Baltimore fans as it is about his tape-measure home runs.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Boog was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Boog Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
Boog's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 80
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 85 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1970 with the Baltimore Orioles.
- Was a four-time American League All-Star (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971).
- Won two World Series championships with the Baltimore Orioles (1966, 1970).
- Led the American League in slugging percentage (.606) in 1964.
Did You Know?
The nickname 'Boog' was given to him by his father as a child, and it stuck for life.
He famously hit a 471-foot home run in the 1966 All-Star Game.
After retirement, he ran a successful barbecue stand at the Orioles' Camden Yards stadium.
He was a color commentator for the Orioles' television broadcasts for several years.
“I never considered myself a home run hitter. I just tried to hit the ball hard.”
