Boddicker diagnosed with cancer, but expects full recovery

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

November 09, 2011, 10:59am

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Former Orioles pitcher Mike Boddicker has been diagnosed with cancer, but he's expected to make a full recovery. Doctors determined that the cancer was confined to Boddicker's tonsils, which he had removed about three weeks ago. As a precaution, he'll undergo radiation treatments on the tissue around the area. Boddicker spent parts of nine seasons with the Orioles, earning a World Series ring in 1983 and winning 20 games the following season. He placed third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in '83 and fourth in the Cy Young voting in '84 after going 20-11 with a 2.79 ERA. Boddicker was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1988 for outfielder Brady Anderson and pitcher Curt Schilling. Doctors took biopsies of Boddicker's lymph nodes, which came back negative. That was the first piece of good news. The radiation treatments are being done to eliminate the risk of the cancer returning. I'm told that Boddicker is feeling fine and has plans to go hunting later this week. Boddicker retired in 1993, having compiled a 134-116 record in 14 seasons. He served as an analyst for MASN in 2010, when the network rotated former Orioles in the broadcast booth.