[1] He played as a catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1974 with the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants.

[1][2] Boccabella had an impressive first season in professional baseball, posting a .365 batting average along with 30 home runs and 92 RBIs in just 84 games with the Chiefs.

[citation needed] In 1966, Cubs manager, Leo Durocher made the decision to convert Boccabella into a catcher to serve as a backup for Randy Hundley.

[1] Boccabella had another career highlight on July 6, 1973 when he hit two home runs in the sixth inning at Jarry Park, including a grand slam.

[4] With the arrival in September 1973 of highly rated Expos' first round draft choice Barry Foote, Boccabella was traded to the Giants on March 27, 1974 for pitcher Don Carrithers after five seasons in Montreal.