Boeckel was born in 1892 in Los Angeles. He played minor league baseball for several teams before his MLB career. Boeckel\'s minor league career began with the Stockton Producers of the California State League. He split the 1914 season between Stockton and the Tacoma Tigers of the Northwestern League. He moved to another Northwestern League team, the Great Falls Electrics, for 1916 and part of 1917. Boeckel\'s minor league statistics are only complete for 1913, when he hit for a .268 batting average in 115 games and committed 49 errors in 579 total chances.\n', '

In 1917, Boeckel made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his first game, he had to be carried off the field due to heat prostration. He returned to the field two days later and was struck in the head by a line drive. The head wound required several stitches and he missed another week of play. He played in 65 games for Pittsburgh that year, hitting .265 and tallying 23 runs batted in (RBI).\n', '

Before the 1918 season, Boeckel lost 15 pounds (6.8 kg). Pittsburgh manager Hugo Bezdek was pleased and said that Boeckel\'s weight had been an impediment the previous year. However, Boeckel missed the season after enlisting in the navy. Pittsburgh acquired third baseman Walter Barbare in 1919, so the team placed Boeckel on waivers early in the season. He was obtained off waivers by the Boston Braves. Between the two teams, Boeckel appeared in 140 games that season. He was one of three NL players to reach that number of games played.\n', '

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