Joe Boehling
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Boehling was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for seven seasons. He played with the Washington Senators
from 1912 to 1916, and the Cleveland Indians
from 1916 to 1920. Boehling made his major league debut on June 20, 1912, in a 5–0 loss against the Philadelphia Athletics. He went on to play two more games during the 1912 Washington Senators season
, finishing with five innings pitched
.
In 1913, Boehling was used primarily as a starter alongside Walter Johnson
in what was his best season. He pitched in 38 games, starting 25 of them, and finished the season with 18 complete game
s and three shutout
s. He finished with a 17 7 record and an ERA
of 2.14. His ERA of 2.14 was sixth in the American League, better than the ERAs of Hall of Famers
Chief Bender
(2.21) and Rube Marquard
(2.50). During January 1914, Boehling signed a one-year contract to continue playing with the Senators. Boehling played 34 games during the 1914 season, and finished the season with a 12–8 record and a 3.03 ERA.
The 1915 season saw Boehling pitch a career high number of games with 40, 32 of them starts. After a 14–13 record in 1915 and a 9–11 record the following season, the Senators traded Boehling. On August 18, 1916, Boehling was traded along with Danny Moeller
to the Cleveland Indians for Elmer Smith and Joe Leonard
. He finished the season by pitching in 12 games for the Indians, then pitched in 12 the following season. On July 30, he was sent to the minor leagues by the Indians, and did not play in the major leagues again until 1920. He played in three games for the 1920 Cleveland Indians team
that went on to win the World Series
, and played his final major league game on June 3, 1920.
After retiring, Boehling managed an American Legion
baseball team in Richmond, Virginia
, and worked in the feed and seed business with his brother. He died on September 8, 1941 at the age of 50 as a result of injuries sustained from a fall.
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...
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...
for seven seasons. He played with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1912 to 1916, and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from 1916 to 1920. Boehling made his major league debut on June 20, 1912, in a 5–0 loss against the Philadelphia Athletics. He went on to play two more games during the 1912 Washington Senators season
1912 Washington Senators season
The 1912 Washington Senators won 91 games, lost 61, and finished in second place in the American League. They were managed by Clark Griffith and played their home games at National Park.- Notable transactions :...
, finishing with five innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
In 1913, Boehling was used primarily as a starter alongside Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
in what was his best season. He pitched in 38 games, starting 25 of them, and finished the season with 18 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s and three shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. He finished with a 17 7 record and an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.14. His ERA of 2.14 was sixth in the American League, better than the ERAs of Hall of Famers
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Chief Bender
Chief Bender
Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was a pitcher in Major League Baseball during the first two decades of the 20th century...
(2.21) and Rube Marquard
Rube Marquard
Richard William "Rube" Marquard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1910s and early 1920s...
(2.50). During January 1914, Boehling signed a one-year contract to continue playing with the Senators. Boehling played 34 games during the 1914 season, and finished the season with a 12–8 record and a 3.03 ERA.
The 1915 season saw Boehling pitch a career high number of games with 40, 32 of them starts. After a 14–13 record in 1915 and a 9–11 record the following season, the Senators traded Boehling. On August 18, 1916, Boehling was traded along with Danny Moeller
Danny Moeller
Daniel Edward Moeller , was a professional baseball player.He was an outfielder in the Major Leagues from - and from -. During his career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators, and Cleveland Indians.-External links:...
to the Cleveland Indians for Elmer Smith and Joe Leonard
Joe Leonard (baseball)
Joseph Howard Leonard was an American Major League Baseball player, born in Chicago, Illinois on November 15, 1894. He died in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 1920....
. He finished the season by pitching in 12 games for the Indians, then pitched in 12 the following season. On July 30, he was sent to the minor leagues by the Indians, and did not play in the major leagues again until 1920. He played in three games for the 1920 Cleveland Indians team
1920 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the 20th season in franchise history. The Indians won the American League pennant and proceeded to win their first World Series title in the history of the franchise. Pitchers Jim Bagby, Stan Coveleski and Ray Caldwell combined to win 75 games...
that went on to win the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, and played his final major league game on June 3, 1920.
After retiring, Boehling managed an American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
baseball team in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, and worked in the feed and seed business with his brother. He died on September 8, 1941 at the age of 50 as a result of injuries sustained from a fall.