Len Boehmer
Encyclopedia
Leonard Joseph Stephen Boehmer (born June 28, 1941, at Flint Hill, Missouri
) is a retired American
Major League Baseball
player who appeared in 50 games played
between the and seasons for the Cincinnati Reds
and New York Yankees
. Primarily a first baseman
, but also a utility infielder
, he was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and 192 pounds (87.1 kg) and threw and batted right-handed.
Boehmer signed with the Reds in 1961 and was in his seventh season in the Cincinnati farm system when he was recalled for his Major League debut on June 18, 1967. In his first at bat
, as a pinch hitter
for Gerry Arrigo
, he grounded out against Claude Osteen
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Boehmer stayed in the game and flied out in his second MLB at bat, then again went hitless
as a pinch hitter
on July 2 before returning to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
. At the close of the 1967 minor league baseball
season, he was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher
Bill Henry
and Boehmer played the rest of his pro career in the Yankee organization.
After batting
.268 in 144 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 1968, Boehmer made the Yankee roster
for the entire season. He appeared in 45 games, starting 17 at first base and seven more at second base, and batted .176 in 108 at bats. His 19 hits included four doubles
. He then spent the entire 1970 season back at Syracuse (batting .288) before returning to the Yanks for a brief, three-game audition in July 1971, going hitless in five at bats. In his final season in pro ball, 1972, he batted .326 in 113 games with Syracuse. Overall, Boehmer batted .274 with 91 home runs in 1,196 minor league games.
Flint Hill, Missouri
Flint Hill is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Flint Hill is located at ....
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who appeared in 50 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
between the and seasons for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Primarily a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, but also a utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
, he was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and 192 pounds (87.1 kg) and threw and batted right-handed.
Boehmer signed with the Reds in 1961 and was in his seventh season in the Cincinnati farm system when he was recalled for his Major League debut on June 18, 1967. In his first at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Gerry Arrigo
Gerry Arrigo
Gerald William Arrigo is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Before the season, Arrigo was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox, but was promptly drafted away from them by the Minnesota Twins in the 1960 first-year draft....
, he grounded out against Claude Osteen
Claude Osteen
Claude Wilson Osteen , nicknamed "Gomer" because of his resemblance to Gomer Pyle, is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for six different teams: the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds , Washington Senators , Los Angeles Dodgers , Houston Astros , St...
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. Boehmer stayed in the game and flied out in his second MLB at bat, then again went hitless
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
on July 2 before returning to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. At the close of the 1967 minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
season, he was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Bill Henry
Bill Henry (New York Yankees pitcher)
William Francis "Bill" Henry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Henry played for the New York Yankees in . In 2 career games, he had a 0-0 record, with a 0.00 ERA. He pitched in 3 innings in his 2 career games...
and Boehmer played the rest of his pro career in the Yankee organization.
After batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.268 in 144 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 1968, Boehmer made the Yankee roster
1969 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 67th season for the team in New York, and its 69th season overall. The team finished in fifth-place in the newly-established American League East with a record of 80-81, 28½ games behind the Baltimore Orioles. New York was managed by Ralph Houk...
for the entire season. He appeared in 45 games, starting 17 at first base and seven more at second base, and batted .176 in 108 at bats. His 19 hits included four doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. He then spent the entire 1970 season back at Syracuse (batting .288) before returning to the Yanks for a brief, three-game audition in July 1971, going hitless in five at bats. In his final season in pro ball, 1972, he batted .326 in 113 games with Syracuse. Overall, Boehmer batted .274 with 91 home runs in 1,196 minor league games.