John Boccabella
Born: 6/29/1941 in San Francisco, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1963-09-02 | Final Game: 1974-09-19
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: John Dominic Boccabella
Biography
John Boccabella, born in 1941, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1963 until his final game on September 19, 1974. Primarily known as a position player, Boccabella appeared in 551 games throughout his career. He recorded a total of 320 hits, which included 26 home runs and 148 runs batted in. His career batting average stood at .219, reflecting the challenges many players faced during the era he played in, which was characterized by a mix of offensive prowess and defensive dominance.
Boccabella's playing style was marked by versatility, allowing him to contribute to various teams in different capacities. Though he may not have been a household name, his contributions during a time when baseball was evolving into a more power-driven game are noteworthy. With three stolen bases to his credit, he showcased a willingness to be aggressive on the base paths. Boccabella's career spanned over a decade, and while his statistics may not reflect superlative numbers, his commitment to the game and ability to adapt to the changing landscape of baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s remain a testament to his role in the sport's rich history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 551 | 1462 | 117 | 320 | 56 | 5 | 26 | 148 | 3 | 96 | 246 | 0.219 | 0.267 | 0.317 | 0.584 | -4146.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | CHC | NL | 24 | 74 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 0.189 | -233.3 |
| 1964 | CHC | NL | 9 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.391 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | CHC | NL | 6 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | CHC | NL | 75 | 206 | 22 | 47 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 14 | 39 | 0.228 | -324.3 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 25 | 35 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0.171 | 0.0 |
| 1968 | CHC | NL | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.071 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | WSN | NL | 40 | 86 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 0.105 | -748.5 |
| 1970 | WSN | NL | 61 | 145 | 18 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 24 | 0.269 | 46.9 |
| 1971 | WSN | NL | 74 | 177 | 15 | 39 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 26 | 0.220 | -351.1 |
| 1972 | WSN | NL | 83 | 207 | 14 | 47 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 29 | 0.227 | -671.8 |
| 1973 | WSN | NL | 118 | 403 | 25 | 94 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 1 | 26 | 57 | 0.233 | -1206.5 |
| 1974 | SFG | NL | 29 | 80 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0.138 | -658.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 142 | 103 | 982 | 92 | 4 | 104 |
| 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 319 | 234 | 1433 | 146 | 25 | 21 |
| OF | 46 | 35 | 60 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | CHN | 1B | 24 | 21 | 234 | 12 | 1 | 29 |
| 1964 | CHN | 1B | 5 | 2 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1964 | CHN | OF | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | CHN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | CHN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | CHN | C | 5 | 4 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | CHN | 1B | 30 | 17 | 182 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| 1966 | CHN | OF | 33 | 28 | 48 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | CHN | C | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CHN | 1B | 3 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1967 | CHN | OF | 9 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | CHN | C | 4 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | CHN | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | MON | C | 32 | 19 | 137 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | MON | C | 24 | 14 | 79 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970 | MON | 1B | 33 | 25 | 234 | 33 | 2 | 25 |
| 1970 | MON | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | MON | C | 37 | 21 | 127 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 1971 | MON | 1B | 37 | 28 | 207 | 22 | 1 | 26 |
| 1971 | MON | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | MON | C | 73 | 44 | 316 | 33 | 6 | 6 |
| 1972 | MON | 1B | 7 | 7 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 1972 | MON | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | MON | C | 117 | 106 | 610 | 65 | 14 | 10 |
| 1973 | MON | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | SFN | C | 26 | 21 | 110 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 319 |
| First Base | 143 |
| Third Base | 4 |
| Left Field | 41 |
| Right Field | 5 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | CA | 1961, 1962, 1963 |