John Boccabella
Encyclopedia
John Dominic Boccabella (born June 29, 1941) was a major league baseball catcher, infielder and outfielder during 1963-1974, with the Chicago Cubs
, Montreal Expos
and San Francisco Giants
.
Boccabella was signed by the Cubs in 1963 and assigned to the Pocatello Chiefs
, a Cubs farm team in the Pioneer League. He was brought up to the major leagues at the end of the season, and despite hailing from San Francisco, the Cubs' radio announcers dubbed him "Boccabella from 'Pocatella'".
Boccabella was drafted from the Cubs by the Expos in the 1968 expansion draft
, and it was here that his career blossomed as a "super-sub", and his name continued to draw attention. Public address announcer Claude Mouton would call attention to his name, at each at-bat, by enunciating each syllable with a florid style: "John... Boc-ca-BEL-la". Lou Brock
's patented combination umbrella and hat paid witting or unwitting homage to this player also, being named the "Brock-a-brella".
After five seasons in Montreal, Boccabella was traded to the Giants for pitcher
Don Carrithers
. After one season with his hometown team, during which he batted just .138 in 29 games, Boccabella retired.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and San Francisco 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....
.
Boccabella was signed by the Cubs in 1963 and assigned to the Pocatello Chiefs
Pocatello Chiefs
The Pocatello Chiefs were a minor league baseball team located in Pocatello, Idaho. The team began as the Pocatello Bannocks in 1952. They played in the Pioneer League originally as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns and then the Kansas City Athletics in 1956...
, a Cubs farm team in the Pioneer League. He was brought up to the major leagues at the end of the season, and despite hailing from San Francisco, the Cubs' radio announcers dubbed him "Boccabella from 'Pocatella'".
Boccabella was drafted from the Cubs by the Expos in the 1968 expansion draft
1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
The 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball which would begin play in the 1969 season....
, and it was here that his career blossomed as a "super-sub", and his name continued to draw attention. Public address announcer Claude Mouton would call attention to his name, at each at-bat, by enunciating each syllable with a florid style: "John... Boc-ca-BEL-la". Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
's patented combination umbrella and hat paid witting or unwitting homage to this player also, being named the "Brock-a-brella".
After five seasons in Montreal, Boccabella was traded to the Giants 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...
Don Carrithers
Don Carrithers
Donald George Carrithers is a former professional baseball pitcher. Carrithers pitched in all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1970 until 1977....
. After one season with his hometown team, during which he batted just .138 in 29 games, Boccabella retired.