Fred Hofmann
Encyclopedia
Fred Hofmann nicknamed "Bootnose," was a catcher
, coach
and scout
in Major League Baseball
, as well a player and manager
in the Minor Leagues
. Listed at 5 foot, 175 pounds (79.4 kg), Hofmann batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri
.
Hofmann began his baseball career as a grade school catcher in St. Louis. In the minors, he not only served as a catcher, but also as a manager. He started at a professional level with the Cedar Rapids
team of the Central Association
in 1915, then he served in the U.S. Navy
during World War I
from 1918 through 1919.
Following his service discharge, Hofmann entered the majors in 1919 with the New York Yankees
, sharing duties with Muddy Ruel
and Wally Schang
. He was a member of the Yankees teams who won the American League
pennants from 1921–23, but only was used twice as a pinch-hitter in the 1923 World Series
won by the Yankees over the NY Giants
in six games. His most productive seasons for New York came in 1922 (.297 in 37 games) and in 1923, when he appeared in 72 games while hitting .290 with career-highs in runs
(24), RBI
(26), hits
(69) and extrabases (17). He also was one of three Yankee players selected to the Major League All-Star Team who made a tour of Japan
in 1922.
During the 1925 midseason, Hofmann was sent by the Yankees to the St. Paul Saints
of the American Association
in the same transaction that brought Mark Koenig
to New York. Hofmann last saw major league action with the Boston Red Sox
, hitting .272 in a career-high 87 games in 1927, and .226 in 78 games in 1928.
In a nine-season career, Hofmann was a .247 hitter (247-for-1000) with seven home run
s and 93 RBI in 378 games, including 98 runs, 49 doubles
, 11 triples
, six stolen base
s, and a .308 on-base percentage. In 340 catching appearances, he committed just 42 errors
in 1363 chances
for a .969 fielding percentage
.
Following his playing career, Hofmann managed in the minors for the Mission Reds
(PCL
, 1932–1933), Memphis Chicks
(SA
, 1935-1936[start]), Union City Greyhounds
(1936[end]) and Columbus Red Birds
(AA
, 1937), winning two pennants with Union City and Columbus. After that, he coached
for the St. Louis Browns
for over a decade (1938–1949), remaining with them as a scout
(1950–1953) and later when the team moved to Baltimore as the Orioles
in 1954. Two of his top finds for the Orioles were All-Star slugger Boog Powell
and pitcher
Wally Bunker
, who won 19 games during his rookie season. He also was in a large measure responsible for the signing of third baseman
Brooks Robinson
, a future Hall of Famer.
Hofmann died in St. Helena, California
, at age 70.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
in 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...
, as well a player and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in the Minor Leagues
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...
. Listed at 5 foot, 175 pounds (79.4 kg), Hofmann batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Hofmann began his baseball career as a grade school catcher in St. Louis. In the minors, he not only served as a catcher, but also as a manager. He started at a professional level with the Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
team of the Central Association
Central Association
The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and ran continuously through 1917.-1908:The teams from Burlington, Iowa, Jacksonville, Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Waterloo, Iowa joined after having...
in 1915, then he served in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
from 1918 through 1919.
Following his service discharge, Hofmann entered the majors in 1919 with the 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...
, sharing duties with Muddy Ruel
Muddy Ruel
Herold Dominic "Muddy" Ruel was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and general manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons with the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the Chicago White Sox...
and Wally Schang
Wally Schang
Walter Henry Schang was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1913 through 1931, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers . Schang was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
. He was a member of the Yankees teams who won the American League
American League pennant winners 1901-68
Each season in Major League Baseball , one American League team wins the pennant, signifying that they are the league's champion and have the right to play in the World Series. The pennant was presented to the team with the best win–loss record each year through the 1968 season, after which the...
pennants from 1921–23, but only was used twice as a pinch-hitter in the 1923 World Series
1923 World Series
In the 1923 World Series, the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants in six games. This would be the first of the Yankees' 27 World Series championships...
won by the Yankees over the NY Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in six games. His most productive seasons for New York came in 1922 (.297 in 37 games) and in 1923, when he appeared in 72 games while hitting .290 with career-highs in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(24), RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(26), hits
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....
(69) and extrabases (17). He also was one of three Yankee players selected to the Major League All-Star Team who made a tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1922.
During the 1925 midseason, Hofmann was sent by the Yankees to the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in the same transaction that brought Mark Koenig
Mark Koenig
Mark Anthony Koenig was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for 12 seasons from 1925–1936. He was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees 1927 Murderers' Row team, and was the last surviving member of that legendary team...
to New York. Hofmann last saw major league action with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, hitting .272 in a career-high 87 games in 1927, and .226 in 78 games in 1928.
In a nine-season career, Hofmann was a .247 hitter (247-for-1000) with seven home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 93 RBI in 378 games, including 98 runs, 49 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....
, 11 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, six stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .308 on-base percentage. In 340 catching appearances, he committed just 42 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 1363 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
for a .969 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Following his playing career, Hofmann managed in the minors for the Mission Reds
Mission Reds
The Mission Reds were a minor league baseball team located in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1926 through 1937.-Original Missions:...
(PCL
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, 1932–1933), Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
(SA
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, 1935-1936[start]), Union City Greyhounds
Union City Dodgers
The Union City Dodgers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1935-1955 in Union City, Tennessee. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Brooklyn Dodgers...
(1936[end]) and Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
(AA
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, 1937), winning two pennants with Union City and Columbus. After that, he coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for over a decade (1938–1949), remaining with them as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
(1950–1953) and later when the team moved to Baltimore as the Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 1954. Two of his top finds for the Orioles were All-Star slugger Boog Powell
Boog Powell
John Wesley Powell is a former major league first baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles , Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers...
and 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...
Wally Bunker
Wally Bunker
Wallace Edward Bunker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. A right-hander, Bunker pitched for the Baltimore Orioles from to and Kansas City Royals from to .-Biography:...
, who won 19 games during his rookie season. He also was in a large measure responsible for the signing of third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles . Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history...
, a future Hall of Famer.
Hofmann died in St. Helena, California
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
, at age 70.
Facts
- On July 20, 1920, Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
drove his new car on a Yankee road trip. About 3 A.M., he was driving near Wawa, PennsylvaniaWawa, PennsylvaniaWawa is an unincorporated community located in Middletown Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Named for the Ojibwe word for "goose" ,Wawa was originally known as Grubb's Bridge...
, with wife Helen, team's coach Charley O'LearyCharley O'LearyCharles Timothy O'Leary was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played eleven seasons with the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Cardinals , and St. Louis Browns ....
, Hofmann and teammate Frank GleichFrank GleichFrank Elmer Gleich [Inch] was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York Yankees. Listed at 5' 11.5", 175 lb., Gleich batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Columbus, Ohio.In a two-season career, Gleich was a .133 hitter with...
. When Ruth turned dangerously around a curve, the auto skidded out of control. As the machine went off the road, Helen and O'Leary were thrown clear as it flipped over. Incredibly, no one was hurt as Babe's group proceeded on to PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. RUTH REPORTED KILLED IN CAR CRASH, was the headline they found in one local paper, but Ruth was supposedly well enough to purchase a new version of the identical car when he returned to New York. - While managing the Mission Reds, Hofmann invited Joe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioJoseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
to try out with the club. According to DiMaggio's book, Lucky to be a Yankee, Hofmann offered him a $150 contract for a month, which was better that PCL clubs were paying at the time. However, Joe's older brother VinceVince DiMaggioVincent Paul "Vince" DiMaggio was a Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 10-year baseball career, he played for the Boston Bees , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies , and New York Giants...
, was playing for the San Francisco Seals, who used the same park as the Mission team, and Spike Hennessy, scout of the Seals, lured Joe from Hofmann.