Born: Sacramento, Calif., 12/6/1945...
B-B, T-R... 5'10", 155 lbs
Larry Bowa was one of the slickest-fielding shortstops ever to play the game. Not flashy but dependable, Bowa rarely made an error and always seemed to make the play. Bowa had a tumultuous 1980 season, feuding with the manager, the press and even the fans at some point. However, in the LCS and the World Series, Bowa contributed with the bat as well as the glove, batting .316 and .375 respectively and sparking the team with a daring steal to bring the Phillies from behind in game 1 of the World Series.
1980 Statistics
|
|
Games |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1980 |
147 |
130 |
2 |
31 |
.267 |
|
LCS |
5 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
.316 |
|
WS |
6 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
.375 |
Lifetime Statistics
|
Year |
Team |
AB |
Runs |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1970 |
Phillies |
547 |
50 |
137 |
0 |
34 |
.250 |
|
1971 |
Phillies |
650 |
74 |
162 |
0 |
25 |
.249 |
|
1972 |
Phillies |
579 |
67 |
145 |
1 |
31 |
.250 |
|
1973 |
Phillies |
446 |
42 |
94 |
0 |
23 |
.211 |
|
1974 |
Phillies |
669 |
97 |
184 |
1 |
36 |
.275 |
|
1975 |
Phillies |
583 |
79 |
178 |
2 |
38 |
.305 |
|
1976 |
Phillies |
624 |
71 |
155 |
0 |
49 |
.248 |
|
1977 |
Phillies |
624 |
93 |
175 |
4 |
41 |
.280 |
|
1978 |
Phillies |
654 |
78 |
192 |
3 |
43 |
.294 |
|
1979 |
Phillies |
539 |
74 |
130 |
0 |
31 |
.241 |
|
1980 |
Phillies |
540 |
57 |
144 |
2 |
39 |
.267 |
|
1981 |
Phillies |
360 |
34 |
102 |
0 |
31 |
.283 |
|
1982 |
Cubs |
499 |
50 |
123 |
0 |
29 |
.246 |
|
1983 |
Cubs |
499 |
73 |
133 |
2 |
43 |
.267 |
|
1984 |
Cubs |
391 |
33 |
87 |
0 |
17 |
.223 |
|
1985 |
Cubs |
195 |
13 |
48 |
0 |
13 |
.246 |
|
1985 |
Mets |
19 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
.105 |
|
TOTALS |
|
8418 |
987 |
2191 |
15 |
525 |
.260 |
Phillies Publications
From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:
How Obtained: Signed by Phillies scout Eddie Bockman, 10/12/65, as a free agent.
1979 Season: Had his finest defensive season setting a major league record for the highest fielding percentage for a shortstop, .991 as he committed just six errors and none at Veterans Stadium... Tied an NL record for most seasons leading league, Fielding Percentage, shortstop- 5... Missed setting an all-time record for fewest errors in a season because of a thumb injury that kept his total chances under the mandatory 700 mark (17 shy)... Extended his own major league record, Highest Fielding Percentage, Shortstop, Lifetime (minimum 1,000 games)- .982... Despite his fielding brilliance, he failed to win a Gold Glove... Started his third All-Star Game after his selection by the fans... Missed 16 games between 5/23 and 6/8 with a fractured right thumb; he was hitting .302 at the time of the injury.
Career: He holds the NL record for fewest errors by a shortstop in a season, 9, in 1972... In his ten year career, he has committed just 128 errors in 7.087 TC... He has been on the NL All-Star team five times... Won Gold Gloves in 1972 and 1978... Had led NL in fielding percentage in (1971-72-76-78-79).
Personal/Misc.: 1963 grad of McClatchy (Sacramento) High... Played on NL All-Star team that went to Japan in November; also made a trip to Hawaii in the off-season... Hosts weekly radio talk show on WWDB-FM in Philadelphia; also does twice daily sports program on the same station in the off-season... Writes a weekly column for the Philadelphia Journal... Is the Phillies Assistant Player Representative... Was active in raising funds for the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.
From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:
1980 Season: Struggled the first half batting .244 but came on strong the second half hitting .288 while playing brilliantly in post-season play... Hit .290 in September and .400 in October during the Phillies pennant drive... Hit two inside-the-park HR, 5/10 off Tom Seaver at Cincinnati and 8/21 off Rick Wise (SD) @ Vet; now has 13 HR (2 inside-the-park)... Suffered hamstring injury on 6/26 and missed seven games... Had off-season defensively (for him) committing 17 errors. Had an eight-game hitting streak and collected three hits in a game nine times.
1980 Post-Season: Set a World Series record by starting seven double plays... Batted .375 in the World Series and .316 in the LCS while fielding flawlessly in both series... Started winning rally in game 5 of LCS off Nolan Ryan with a base hit.
Career: Holds major league record, Highest Fielding Percentage, Shortstop, Lifetime (minimum 1,000 games)- .981... In his eleven-year career, he has committed just 145 errors in 7,692 Total Chances... Has led NL in fielding percentage five times, (1971-72-76-78-79) tying a NL record... Set a major league record in 1979 for the highest fielding percentage by a shortstop, .991 as he committed just six errors and none at home... Has been a NL All-Star five times (3-time starter), and a Gold Glove winner twice, 1971 and 1978.
Personal/Misc: 1963 graduate of McClatchy (Sacramento) High... Was one of five Phillies to compete against K.C. Royals on TV program Family Feud after the World Series... Hosts weekly radio talk show in Philadelphia during the off-season and does twice daily sports program on WWDB-FM throughout the year... Active in raising funds for the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic... Makes his permanent home in suburban Philadelphia.
From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:
- Favorite Color: Blue
- Favorite Singer/Group: Diana Ross and the Supremes
- Favorite Song: You Can't Hurry Love
- Favorite City: San Diego
- Least Favorite City: Montreal
- Person You'd Most Like To Meet: Susan Anton
- Boyhood Idol(s): Phil Rizzuto
- Biggest Turn-On: 60,000 fans at the Vet
- Biggest Turn-Off: 2,000 fans at the Vet
- Favorite Subject in School: Physical Education
- Favorite TV Show: Three Stooges
- Favorite Book: Norma Rae
- Person You Most Admire: My wife Sheena for putting up with me for ten years
- Greatest Achievement: Making the major leagues in 1970
- Most Memorable Moment: My one and only major league grand slam in 1977 off the Reds Joe Hoerner
- Hobbies: Golf, fishing, my radio shows
- Toughest Pitcher You've Faced: J.R. Richard