Boog Powell
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1961-1977)
Boog Powell was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1977 for the Baltimore Orioles, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, a span of 17 seasons. In 2,042 career games, he hit .266 with 1,776 hits, 339 home runs, and 1,187 RBI. Boog Powell was a 4-time All-Star and an MVP. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 27,626.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'4" / 230 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1961-09-26
- Last Game
- 1977-08-24
- Awards
- 4× All-Star · MVP
Full name: John Wesley Powell
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,042 | 6,681 | 889 | 1,776 | 270 | 11 | 339 | 1,187 | 20 | 1,001 | 1,226 | .266 | .361 | .462 | .822 | 27,626 |
Career AVG .266 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — +5.6% above league average.
Career OBP .361 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — +13.3% above league average.
Career SLG .462 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — +23.7% above league average.
Career OPS .822 vs. league average .692 across their career seasons — +18.9% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | BAL | AL | 4 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .077 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1962 | BAL | AL | 124 | 400 | 44 | 97 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 53 | 1 | 38 | 79 | .242 | .257 (-6%) | .326 (-5%) | .393 (+1%) | .719 (-2%) | -108.4 |
| 1963 | BAL | AL | 140 | 491 | 67 | 130 | 22 | 2 | 25 | 82 | 1 | 49 | 87 | .265 | .246 (+8%) | .308 (+6%) | .371 (+27%) | .680 (+17%) | 1532.8 |
| 1964 | BAL | AL | 134 | 424 | 74 | 123 | 17 | 0 | 39 | 99 | 0 | 76 | 91 | .290 | .250 (+16%) | .312 (+28%) | .377 (+60%) | .690 (+46%) | 3880.6 |
| 1965 | BAL | AL | 144 | 472 | 54 | 117 | 20 | 2 | 17 | 72 | 1 | 71 | 93 | .248 | .245 (+1%) | .310 (+12%) | .371 (+9%) | .682 (+10%) | 1117.1 |
| 1966 | BAL | AL | 140 | 491 | 78 | 141 | 18 | 0 | 34 | 109 | 0 | 67 | 125 | .287 | .248 (+16%) | .309 (+20%) | .376 (+41%) | .685 (+32%) | 3089.4 |
| 1967 | BAL | AL | 125 | 415 | 53 | 97 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 55 | 1 | 55 | 94 | .234 | .242 (-4%) | .306 (+6%) | .357 (+2%) | .663 (+4%) | 406.6 |
| 1968 | BAL | AL | 154 | 550 | 60 | 137 | 21 | 1 | 22 | 85 | 7 | 73 | 97 | .249 | .236 (+5%) | .298 (+13%) | .340 (+21%) | .638 (+17%) | 1874.0 |
| 1969 | BAL | AL | 152 | 533 | 83 | 162 | 25 | 0 | 37 | 121 | 1 | 72 | 76 | .304 | .248 (+22%) | .320 (+20%) | .369 (+51%) | .689 (+37%) | 3799.9 |
| 1970 | BAL | AL | 154 | 526 | 82 | 156 | 28 | 0 | 35 | 114 | 1 | 104 | 80 | .297 | .253 (+17%) | .325 (+27%) | .385 (+43%) | .711 (+35%) | 4078.2 |
| 1971 | BAL | AL | 128 | 418 | 59 | 107 | 19 | 0 | 22 | 92 | 1 | 82 | 64 | .256 | .249 (+3%) | .316 (+20%) | .365 (+26%) | .682 (+23%) | 2074.6 |
| 1972 | BAL | AL | 140 | 465 | 53 | 117 | 20 | 1 | 21 | 81 | 4 | 65 | 92 | .252 | .243 (+3%) | .310 (+11%) | .353 (+23%) | .664 (+17%) | 1609.4 |
| 1973 | BAL | AL | 114 | 370 | 52 | 98 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 54 | 0 | 85 | 64 | .265 | .256 (+3%) | .325 (+22%) | .378 (+4%) | .703 (+13%) | 1260.5 |
| 1974 | BAL | AL | 110 | 344 | 37 | 91 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 45 | 0 | 52 | 58 | .265 | .256 (+3%) | .324 (+11%) | .369 (+12%) | .693 (+11%) | 818.2 |
| 1975 | CLE | AL | 134 | 435 | 64 | 129 | 18 | 0 | 27 | 86 | 1 | 59 | 72 | .297 | .257 (+15%) | .327 (+15%) | .374 (+40%) | .701 (+29%) | 2422.9 |
| 1976 | CLE | AL | 95 | 293 | 29 | 63 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 33 | 1 | 41 | 43 | .215 | .255 (-16%) | .320 (-5%) | .360 (-6%) | .681 (-6%) | -238.1 |
| 1977 | LAN | NL | 50 | 41 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 9 | .244 | — | — | — | — | 8.4 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 2,042 | 6,681 | 889 | 1,776 | 270 | 11 | 339 | 1,187 | 20 | 1,001 | 1,226 | .266 | — | — | — | — | 27,626 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 126 | 17 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 17 | .262 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ALCS | BAL | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .125 |
| 1973 | ALCS | BAL | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1971 | ALCS | BAL | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | .300 |
| 1971 | WS | BAL | 7 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .111 |
| 1970 | ALCS | BAL | 3 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | .429 |
| 1970 | WS | BAL | 5 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | .294 |
| 1969 | ALCS | BAL | 3 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .385 |
| 1969 | WS | BAL | 5 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .263 |
| 1966 | WS | BAL | 4 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .357 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2042 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1025 | 3288 | 437 | 872 | 150 | 550 | .265 |
| Away | 1017 | 3393 | 453 | 904 | 189 | 637 | .266 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-08-24 | LAD | PIT | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-08-16 | LAD | SFG | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-08-15 | LAD | SFG | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977-08-12 | LAD | ATL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-08-11 | LAD | CIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-08-09 | LAD | CIN | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977-08-05 | LAD | PHI | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977-08-01 | LAD | NYN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-07-31 | LAD | WSN | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977-07-26 | LAD | PHI | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1479 | 1386 | 12130 | 859 | 116 | 1131 |
| OF | 431 | 421 | 666 | 21 | 17 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | BAL | OF | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | BAL | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | BAL | OF | 112 | 112 | 184 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 1963 | BAL | 1B | 23 | 14 | 135 | 12 | 3 | 10 |
| 1963 | BAL | OF | 121 | 121 | 181 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 1964 | BAL | 1B | 5 | 4 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 1964 | BAL | OF | 124 | 115 | 178 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| 1965 | BAL | 1B | 78 | 58 | 538 | 52 | 5 | 50 |
| 1965 | BAL | OF | 71 | 70 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | BAL | 1B | 136 | 132 | 1094 | 68 | 13 | 96 |
| 1967 | BAL | 1B | 114 | 109 | 903 | 64 | 14 | 82 |
| 1968 | BAL | 1B | 149 | 149 | 1293 | 79 | 14 | 102 |
| 1969 | BAL | 1B | 144 | 141 | 1192 | 84 | 7 | 105 |
| 1970 | BAL | 1B | 145 | 143 | 1209 | 89 | 10 | 107 |
| 1971 | BAL | 1B | 124 | 114 | 1031 | 67 | 5 | 97 |
| 1972 | BAL | 1B | 133 | 128 | 1116 | 70 | 15 | 111 |
| 1973 | BAL | 1B | 111 | 104 | 988 | 77 | 12 | 95 |
| 1974 | BAL | 1B | 102 | 94 | 866 | 61 | 4 | 102 |
| 1975 | CLE | 1B | 121 | 111 | 997 | 69 | 3 | 92 |
| 1976 | CLE | 1B | 89 | 83 | 698 | 61 | 10 | 76 |
| 1977 | LAN | 1B | 4 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1480 |
| Left Field | 430 |
| Right Field | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 6 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1970 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1970 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1969 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1968 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1966 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1966 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1970 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 234.0 | 336 | 11 |
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 227.0 | 336 | 6 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 4.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 122.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 28.0 | 280 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Boog Powell (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Boog Powell
Boog Powell: the record in brief
The profile opens with Boog Powell's first major league game on September 26, 1961; the last one listed came on August 24, 1977. The season rows list, in order, the Baltimore Orioles (1961 through 1974), the Cleveland Indians (1975 to 1976), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1977). Listed as a first baseman, Powell hit left-handed while throwing right-handed. Height and weight on file: 6 feet, 4 inches and 230 pounds. The birth record reads August 17, 1941, in Lakeland, FL, USA. The given name on file is John Wesley Powell.
Powell collected 1,776 hits in 6,681 at bats across 2,042 games, good for a .266 batting average, plus 339 homers, 1,187 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .361 clip and slugging .462, Powell finished with a .822 OPS. Set against a .252 league average for the same years, Powell's .266 average sits 5.6% above it. In OPS terms, Powell's .822 stands 18.9% above the league's .692.
Frequently Asked Questions about Boog Powell
- What years did Boog Powell play?
- Boog Powell played in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1977.
- Was Boog Powell a pitcher?
- No. Boog Powell was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Boog Powell hit?
- Boog Powell hit 339 career home runs with 1,776 hits.
- What teams did Boog Powell play for?
- Boog Powell played for 3 teams: the Baltimore Orioles (1961–1974), the Cleveland Indians (1975–1976), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1977).
- How many MVP awards did Boog Powell win?
- Boog Powell won 1 MVP award, in 1970.
- What awards did Boog Powell win?
- Boog Powell won the MVP award (1970). He was selected to 4 All-Star Games.
- What were Boog Powell's career stats?
- In 2,042 games, Boog Powell had 1,776 hits, 339 home runs, 1,187 RBI, 889 runs, and 20 stolen bases, with a .266 batting average.
- What position did Boog Powell play?
- Boog Powell played primarily as a first baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Boog Powell and how much did he weigh?
- Boog Powell was listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pounds.
- How many home runs did Boog Powell hit each season?
- Boog Powell's home runs by season: 0 in 1961, 15 in 1962, 25 in 1963, 39 in 1964, 17 in 1965, 34 in 1966, 13 in 1967, 22 in 1968, 37 in 1969, 35 in 1970, 22 in 1971, 21 in 1972, 11 in 1973, 12 in 1974, 27 in 1975, 9 in 1976, and 0 in 1977. His most in one season was 39, in 1964.
- What was Boog Powell's career batting average?
- Boog Powell batted .266 over his career, with 1,776 hits in 6,681 at bats.
- How many RBI did Boog Powell have?
- Boog Powell drove in 1,187 runs in his career.
- Is Boog Powell in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Boog Powell has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Boog Powell make?
- Boog Powell was selected to 4 All-Star Games.