Carl Boles, Heritage Isles starter, played in the 1962 World Series for the San Francisco Giants.
Carl didn’t make the major leagues until he was 28, but it wasn’t because he was a late bloomer.
Two years in college and four years in the U.S. Navy kept Carl from making the roster of the San Francisco Giants until 1962. But the Arkansas native enjoyed his one and only season, where his roommate on road trips was the star Willie McCovey.
Carl, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder, hit .375 in 19 games and played in the 1962 World Series against the New York Yankees, who featured Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.
The Giants, who lost the series in seven games, featured six eventual Hall of Famers, including McCovey and the legendary Willie Mays. That year Mays batted .304 with 49 home runs, 141 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and captured a Golden Glove awards.
Carl’s career with the Giants was derailed when he broke an ankle during a spring training game in 1963. It ended his dream of playing outfield with Mays and McCovey.
He played two more seasons on Giants’ minor league teams in 1963-64 and then went to Japan to play professional baseball. It was especially tough because in those days Japanese baseball rules allowed only two Americans per team.
Nevertheless, Carl distinguished himself, making the All-Star team four times in Japan. He played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1966-68 and the Nishitetsu Lions from 1969-71. In 597 games in Japan, he posted a .266 batting average with 117 home runs and 294 RBIs.
We’re certainly glad that Carl is on our team now!
