Mike Boddicker was a right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 14 seasons. He was born on August 23, 1957, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Boddicker attended the University of Iowa and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 6th round of the 1978 MLB draft.
Boddicker made his MLB debut in 1980 and played for the Orioles until 1988. He was known for his control and his ability to change speeds effectively. In 1983, Boddicker had a breakout season, going 16-8 with a 2.77 ERA and finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. He helped lead the Orioles to the World Series that year, but they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.
Boddicker continued to pitch well for the Orioles over the next few seasons, but the team struggled to compete. In 1988, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. Boddicker pitched for the Red Sox for three seasons and was a key member of their pitching staff. In 1990, he went 17-8 with a 3.36 ERA and helped lead the Red Sox to the American League East division title. However, they lost to the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS.
Boddicker finished his career with brief stints with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals. He retired after the 1993 season with a career record of 134-116 and a 3.80 ERA. Boddicker was known for his durability, as he pitched over 200 innings in a season six times in his career.
After retiring from baseball, Boddicker returned to his hometown of Cedar Rapids and became a successful real estate developer. He also coached high school baseball and served as a pitching coach for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, a minor league team.
In 2015, Boddicker was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.
Overall, Mike Boddicker had a successful career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a key member of several teams and was known for his control and durability. After retiring from baseball, he found success in real estate and coaching.
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