Norman Doxie "Tony" Boeckel (August 25, 1892 – February 16, 1924) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder who played six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Braves of the National League (NL). He drove in one of the runs scored in a 1–1 tie game on May 1, 1920 that lasted a record-breaking 26 innings. Boeckel was an active MLB player when he was killed in an automobile accident.
Boeckel was born in 1892 in Los Angeles. He played minor league baseball for several teams before his MLB career.[1] Boeckel's minor league career began with the Stockton Producers of the California State League. He split the 1914 season between Stockton and the Tacoma Tigers of the Northwestern League. He moved to another Northwestern League team, the Great Falls Electrics, for 1916 and part of 1917. Boeckel's minor league statistics are only complete for 1913, when he hit for a .268 batting average in 115 games and committed 49 errors in 579 total chances.[2]
Major league careeredit
In 1917, Boeckel made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his first game, he had to be carried off the field due to heat prostration.[3] He returned to the field two days later and was struck in the head by a line drive.[3] The head wound required several stitches and he missed another week of play.[3] He played in 65 games for Pittsburgh that year, hitting .265 and tallying 23 runs batted in (RBI).[4]
Before the 1918 season, Boeckel lost 15 pounds (6.8 kg). Pittsburgh manager Hugo Bezdek was pleased and said that Boeckel's weight had been an impediment the previous year.[5] However, Boeckel missed the season after enlisting in the navy.[6] Pittsburgh acquired third baseman Walter Barbare in 1919, so the team placed Boeckel on waivers early in the season. He was obtained off waivers by the Boston Braves.[7] Between the two teams, Boeckel appeared in 140 games that season. He was one of three NL players to reach that number of games played.[8]
In 1920, Boeckel had eleven at bats in the record-breaking 26-inning game between the Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers. His sixth-inning single accounted for Boston's only RBI and the game was later declared a tie when it became too dark to continue.[9]
Boeckel reached career highs in several offensive categories in 1921. He batted .313 with 10 home runs and 84 RBI. He also registered 20 stolen bases, nearly matching his career high of 21 steals.[4] In 1922, Boeckel struggled with a toe injury. He aggravated the injury during the following preseason, but a newspaper report at the time called him "a mighty fine ball player when the veteran is right."[10] A collegiate player named Arthur Conlon briefly challenged Boeckel for the third base position in 1923, but Conlon's play fizzled and Boeckel remained the starter.[11]
Boeckel struggled at times with defensive mishaps. He led the league three times (1920, 1921 and 1923) in errors by a third baseman.[4] Boeckel played with the Braves from 1919 to 1923;[4] during those seasons, the team did not finish higher than fourth place in the league standings.[12]
Deathedit
On February 15, 1924, Boeckel was severely injured in an auto accident in San Diego.[13] (A friend, New York Yankees outfielder Bob Meusel, was unhurt.)[14] He died the next day at the age of 31.[13]
Braves club secretary Edwin L. Riley referred to Boeckel's death as a "real personal loss" and he indicated that Boeckel was also close to club president Christy Mathewson.[13] The Braves wore mourning bands in 1924 to honor Boeckel.[15] A bronze tablet at Braves Field was later dedicated to Boeckel's memory.[16]
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
January 01, 1970
tony, boeckel, norman, doxie, tony, boeckel, august, 1892, february, 1924, major, league, baseball, infielder, played, seasons, with, pittsburgh, pirates, boston, braves, national, league, drove, runs, scored, game, 1920, that, lasted, record, breaking, inning. Norman Doxie Tony Boeckel August 25 1892 February 16 1924 was a Major League Baseball MLB infielder who played six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Braves of the National League NL He drove in one of the runs scored in a 1 1 tie game on May 1 1920 that lasted a record breaking 26 innings Boeckel was an active MLB player when he was killed in an automobile accident Tony BoeckelNorman Tony Boeckel 1922 baseball cardThird basemanBorn 1892 08 25 August 25 1892Los Angeles California U S Died February 16 1924 1924 02 16 aged 31 La Jolla California U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutJuly 23 1917 for the Pittsburgh PiratesLast MLB appearanceOctober 6 1923 for the Boston BravesMLB statisticsBatting average 282Home runs27Runs batted in337TeamsPittsburgh Pirates 1917 1919 Boston Braves 1919 1923 Contents 1 Early life 2 Major league career 3 Death 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBoeckel was born in 1892 in Los Angeles He played minor league baseball for several teams before his MLB career 1 Boeckel s minor league career began with the Stockton Producers of the California State League He split the 1914 season between Stockton and the Tacoma Tigers of the Northwestern League He moved to another Northwestern League team the Great Falls Electrics for 1916 and part of 1917 Boeckel s minor league statistics are only complete for 1913 when he hit for a 268 batting average in 115 games and committed 49 errors in 579 total chances 2 Major league career editIn 1917 Boeckel made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates During his first game he had to be carried off the field due to heat prostration 3 He returned to the field two days later and was struck in the head by a line drive 3 The head wound required several stitches and he missed another week of play 3 He played in 65 games for Pittsburgh that year hitting 265 and tallying 23 runs batted in RBI 4 Before the 1918 season Boeckel lost 15 pounds 6 8 kg Pittsburgh manager Hugo Bezdek was pleased and said that Boeckel s weight had been an impediment the previous year 5 However Boeckel missed the season after enlisting in the navy 6 Pittsburgh acquired third baseman Walter Barbare in 1919 so the team placed Boeckel on waivers early in the season He was obtained off waivers by the Boston Braves 7 Between the two teams Boeckel appeared in 140 games that season He was one of three NL players to reach that number of games played 8 In 1920 Boeckel had eleven at bats in the record breaking 26 inning game between the Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers His sixth inning single accounted for Boston s only RBI and the game was later declared a tie when it became too dark to continue 9 Boeckel reached career highs in several offensive categories in 1921 He batted 313 with 10 home runs and 84 RBI He also registered 20 stolen bases nearly matching his career high of 21 steals 4 In 1922 Boeckel struggled with a toe injury He aggravated the injury during the following preseason but a newspaper report at the time called him a mighty fine ball player when the veteran is right 10 A collegiate player named Arthur Conlon briefly challenged Boeckel for the third base position in 1923 but Conlon s play fizzled and Boeckel remained the starter 11 Boeckel struggled at times with defensive mishaps He led the league three times 1920 1921 and 1923 in errors by a third baseman 4 Boeckel played with the Braves from 1919 to 1923 4 during those seasons the team did not finish higher than fourth place in the league standings 12 Death editOn February 15 1924 Boeckel was severely injured in an auto accident in San Diego 13 A friend New York Yankees outfielder Bob Meusel was unhurt 14 He died the next day at the age of 31 13 Braves club secretary Edwin L Riley referred to Boeckel s death as a real personal loss and he indicated that Boeckel was also close to club president Christy Mathewson 13 The Braves wore mourning bands in 1924 to honor Boeckel 15 A bronze tablet at Braves Field was later dedicated to Boeckel s memory 16 See also editList of baseball players who died during their careersReferences edit Tony Boeckel dies from auto injuries The Delmarvia Star February 17 1924 Retrieved October 8 2014 Tony Boeckel minor league statistics and history Baseball Reference com Retrieved October 12 2014 a b c Boeckel hits hard luck at Pittsburg Spokane Daily Chronicle August 3 1917 Retrieved October 8 2014 a b c d Tony Boeckel statistics and history Baseball Reference com Retrieved October 8 2014 The sporting periscope The Spokesman Review February 7 1918 Retrieved October 8 2014 Balinger Edward March 8 1944 The good old days Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved October 8 2014 Balinger Edward September 30 1931 Following the Bucs Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved October 8 2014 1919 National League Batting Leaders Baseball Reference com Retrieved October 8 2014 Reighler Joe Olan Ben January 7 1961 Only 4 000 fans saw historic tie game Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved October 8 2014 Infield is Braves hope declares veteran Evans Evening Independent March 27 1923 Retrieved October 8 2014 Huggins Doc February 22 1924 Sport pills Evening Independent Retrieved October 8 2014 Atlanta Braves team history and encyclopedia Baseball Reference com Retrieved October 12 2014 a b c Tony Boeckel third baseman for Braves dies from injuries Lewiston Daily Sun February 18 1924 Retrieved October 8 2014 Mike Robbins 2004 Ninety Feet from Fame Close Calls With Baseball Immortality Carroll amp Graf Publishers pp 173 ISBN 0 7867 1335 6 Huggins Doc March 1 1924 Sport pills Evening Independent Retrieved October 8 2014 Hooks and slides The Florence Times News July 9 1931 Retrieved October 8 2014 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Boeckel amp oldid 1214554575, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
