Larry Bowa

Lore & Background

Bowa was born in Sacramento, California, the son of Paul Bowa, a former minor-league infielder and manager in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. While at C. K. McClatchy High School, Bowa tried out but never made the school's baseball team. After graduation, Bowa went to Sacramento City College where he started, and was expected to go in the MLB draft, but didn't. The Philadelphia Phillies were the only Major League team interested in Bowa. They sent a local scout, Eddie Bockman, to watch Bowa play in a doubleheader, only for Bowa to be thrown out of both games for arguing. Bockman had a winter league team in the area and offered Bowa a chance to play. Bowa played well and signed with the Phillies for a $2,000 bonus. After 4 years in the minors, he made the Phillies' roster at the age of 24 in 1970.

In Their Own Story

The lights of Veterans Stadium hummed against the humid night air during the 1980 playoffs. Bowa crouched at short, eyes locked on the pitcher's mound, his glove ready for anything. A sharp liner came off the bat, screaming toward the gap. He fielded it cleanly, a textbook throw to first sealing another out. In that moment, amidst the roar of the crowd and the weight of the city's hopes, he knew this team was built on defense and heart.

Reader's Guide

Bowa won two Gold Glove Awards and led the National League (NL) in fielding percentage six times, then a league record. He retired with the NL record for career games at shortstop (2222) and was also among the career leaders in assists (sixth, 6857) and double plays (fourth, 1265); Bowa's records have since been broken, though he retains the NL mark for career fielding percentage. Apart from his fielding achievements, Bowa was a switch-hitter, batting .280 or better four times (.305 in 1975); he also had nine seasons with 20 or more stolen bases. He managed the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1988 with an overall record of 81–127, and the Philadelphia Phillies from 2001 to 2004 with a record of 337–308.

Did You Know?

• Bowa was part of the 1980 Phillies team that captured the first title in franchise history.
• Bowa set a Major League record for shortstops with a .991 fielding average in 1979.
• Bowa was named National League Manager of the Year in 2001.