The major league careers of pitcher Jake Hehl and catcher Jim Boyle both began — and ended — on June 20th. Hehl pitched a single inning for Brooklyn in 1918, while eight years later Boyle squatted behind home plate during one lone frame at the Polo Grounds for the Giants.
Hehl, a German-American, was born on December 10, 1899 and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He attended Brooklyn Prep and was what the New York Times called “one of the best schoolboy pitchers that has been seen in Brooklyn this season.”
He was signed to the Brooklyn Robins by Hall of Fame manager “Uncle Robbie” Wilbert Robinson on June 18, 1918 and made his first and only appearance against John McGraw‘s Giants on June 20, 1918 at Ebbets Field.
With Brooklyn trailing 6-0, Hehl was called on to pitch the ninth inning in relief of Jack Coombs. He quickly retired Giants pitcher Red Causey, then proceeded to hit the legendary Jim Thorpe with a pitch before going on to retire right fielder Ross Youngs and shortstop Art Fletcher. The New York Times wrote that his “big league baptism was impressive,” but unfortunately for Hehl, he skipped the next five sacraments and proceeded immediately to the last rights, as the right-hander’s major league career was over just as quickly as it began, although it’s hard to tell the circumstances under which is had ended; especially considering he had pitched quite well in his debut.
He went on to play nine documented seasons in the minor leagues with the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League (1918), New Haven Weissman/Indians of the Eastern League (1919-1921), Columbia Comers of the South Atlantic League (1922), Rocky Mount Tar Heels/Broncos of the Virginia League (1923-1925), and Jacksonville Tars of the Southeastern League. Over that stretch he went 95-108 while throwing 1,705 innings in 256 games.
Apparently, following his baseball career he also went on to be a successful bowler in various Catholic bowling leagues around Brooklyn, according to an e-book (which I did not read because I refused to pay even $3 for it after reading how poorly written the preview was) written by some guy Robert Grey Reynolds Jr.
Herman Charles “Jake” Hehl (I wonder where the nickname Jake came from) died on July 4, 1961 in Brookyn at the age of 61 (looks like Roger Maris wasn’t the only one to get to 61 in ’61).
Jake Hehl, pictured with the 1920 New Haven Weissman
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Jim Boyle was born on January 19, 1904 in Cincinnati, Ohio and went directly from college at Xavier University to play for John McGraw with New York Giants.
He caught one inning of one game for the Giants; on June 20, 1926 in an 8-0 loss against the Pirates at the Polo Grounds.
The Giants were already down 8-0 when McGraw called on Boyle in the ninth inning to catch the second of Chick Davies‘ two scoreless innings. By the time the game ended, Boyle was still six spots away in the batting order from coming up to the plate.
It’s not known how much longer he remained on the Giants roster, but because he never played in the minors, he has the dubious distinction of having had the shortest known professional baseball career in history.
He later went on to become the founder and owner of a New York City steakhouse called The Browntown Beefery.
Jim Boyle died on Christmas Eve in 1958 in his hometown of Cincinnati at the age of 54.
Jim Boyle, 1926 New York Giants
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Other players who played in their first and only major league games on June 20th were a right fielder named McRemer who went hitless in three at-bats for the Union Association’s Washington Nationals against the Boston Reds; Nick Wise of the 1888 Boston Beaneaters (the modern day Atlanta Braves), who caught and played right field while going 0-for-3 against the New York Giants; left-handed pitcher Fred Blank for the 1894 Cincinnati Reds, who started and pitched eight innings while giving up five hits, four runs, and nine walks with one strike out against the St. Louis Browns (who are now known as the Cardinals, not to be confused with the American League Browns who moved to Baltimore and are now known as the Orioles); and shortstop Tom Murray of the 1894 Philadelphia Phillies, who played in one game of a doubleheader in New York against the Giants and struck out in each of his two at-bats.
Note: Catcher Terry Connell appeared in a National Association game on June 20, 1874 for the Chicago White Stockings (the modern-day Chicago Cubs) against the Brooklyn Atlantics. The National Association was the precursor to the National League (which was established in 1876) and considered to be the first ever professional baseball/sports league, but isn’t technically considered a major league.
The Baseball Impurist 