Born in
Santa Ana, California, Bockman was a
triple-threat back for
Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in
Long Beach, California, in 1937. While playing
second base for the
Fullerton, California All-Stars, Bockman hit a
home run (HR) to help lead the team to a 16–4 victory over Fort Rosecrans, in August 1943. He also played third base for a
Pacific Coast League All-Star team which featured
Cleveland Indians pitcher
Bob Feller. The All-Stars opposed the
Kansas City Monarchs in an exhibition game at
Wrigley Field (Los Angeles), on October 2, 1945, with
Satchel Paige pitching for the Monarchs. Bockman did not play pro baseball from 1943 to 1946, due to service in the United States Navy during
World War II. While in the Navy, he was stationed in San Diego and played for the base team. He rose to the rank of Specialist 2nd Class Petty Officer. In September 1946, he joined the Yankees, then spent parts of the next three years with the Indians and Pirates. Bockman's most productive seasons came with Pittsburgh, when he posted career-best all-around numbers, including a .239
batting average (BA), 23
runs batted in (RBI) and 23
runs scored, in 1948. Then, in 1949 he posted career-highs in
games played (79) and HR (6), while driving in 19 runs and
scoring 21 times. In April of that year, Bockman belted two home runs in a single game to give the Pirates a 3–1 victory over the
Cincinnati Reds at
Forbes Field. His two-run homer in the fourth inning scored
Danny Murtaugh, who had
walked. Bockman's career MLB stat-line includes a .230 BA, 11 HR, and 56 RBI, in 199 games. ==Later life==