Tony Boeckel--1922
A third baseman for the perennial
second division Boston Braves of the
1920s, Norman "Tony" Boeckel found his
way into the annals of baseball history in
an unusual way.
No, it wasn’t for his offense as the right-
handed swinger topped out with 10 home
runs in a season. Nor, was it for his
defense, as Boeckel demonstrated
range at the hot corner, though he would
lead the American League in errors for
three seasons (1920-21, ’23). And it
wasn’t for his good fortune to play
alongside four future Hall of Famers,
most notably and aging Honus Wagner
as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Instead, Boeckel is remembered in
baseball history as being the first active
player to be killed in an automobile
accident.
Riding in a car with Yankee outfielder
Bob Meusel and “theater man” Bob
Albright in San Diego; Boeckel incurred
fatal internal injuries from a wreck in
which he was a passenger when the
accident occurred. His obituary notes:
“Boeckel was pinned under the machine
when it turned over after being in a collision
with a truck. Albright was driving. The
ballplayer’s pelvic bone was fractured and he
received other abdominal injuries.”
So sad... a career snuffed out by an iron
horse.
Editor’s Note: Boeckel would play six
seasons in the bigs, hitting .282 for the
Pirates and Braves, before passing on
February 16, 1924 at the age of 31.
(3/10/11)
second division Boston Braves of the
1920s, Norman "Tony" Boeckel found his
way into the annals of baseball history in
an unusual way.
No, it wasn’t for his offense as the right-
handed swinger topped out with 10 home
runs in a season. Nor, was it for his
defense, as Boeckel demonstrated
range at the hot corner, though he would
lead the American League in errors for
three seasons (1920-21, ’23). And it
wasn’t for his good fortune to play
alongside four future Hall of Famers,
most notably and aging Honus Wagner
as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Instead, Boeckel is remembered in
baseball history as being the first active
player to be killed in an automobile
accident.
Riding in a car with Yankee outfielder
Bob Meusel and “theater man” Bob
Albright in San Diego; Boeckel incurred
fatal internal injuries from a wreck in
which he was a passenger when the
accident occurred. His obituary notes:
“Boeckel was pinned under the machine
when it turned over after being in a collision
with a truck. Albright was driving. The
ballplayer’s pelvic bone was fractured and he
received other abdominal injuries.”
So sad... a career snuffed out by an iron
horse.
Editor’s Note: Boeckel would play six
seasons in the bigs, hitting .282 for the
Pirates and Braves, before passing on
February 16, 1924 at the age of 31.
(3/10/11)
