Joseph E “Eddie” Bockman was born on July 26, 1920 at Santa Ana, California. He played football, baseball and basketball at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, and signed with Bisbee of the Arizona-Texas League in 1939.

The stocky third baseman joined the Yankees’ organization in 1940, playing for the Joplin Miners of the Western Association for the next two seasons. He hit .290 with 72 RBIs in 1941 and earned promotion to Norfolk in the Piedmont League.

Bockman entered military service with the Navy in 1943 and was stationed at San Diego, where he continued to play ball for the base team. In 1945, Bockman played for the Long Beach Service Stars in the Southern California Winter Baseball League. The team was managed by Bill Felstner and included Bob Lemon and Cliff Dapper. Look here if you're interested in Lucky Nugget Casino.

Bockman returned to organized baseball in 1946 and was with the Yankees for spring training. He was assigned to Kansas City of the American Association for the season and had an impressive year, batting .303 with 12 home runs and 95 RBIs, and joined the Yankees for four games in September.

Bockman was traded to the Indians in October 1946. He played 46 games with Cleveland and batted .258. In January 1948, he was on the move again. Bockman was purchased by the Pirates and spent the next two years as a part-time third baseman for the team.

In 1950, he was with Indianapolis in the American Association and was purchased by Portland of the Pacific Coast League in 1951. Bockman continued as a player-manager in the minor leagues until 1958. His best season during those years was 1955 with Albuquerque, when he hit .345 with 22 home runs and 137 RBIs.

Eddie Bockman worked as a major league scout in later years and signed Larry Bowa for the Phillies.

Created December 16, 2007.

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