Larry Bowa

Larry Bowa
Bowa with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 10
Shortstop / Manager / Coach
Born: (1945-12-06) December 6, 1945 (age 71) Sacramento, California
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 7, 1970, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
October 6, 1985, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average	.260
Hits	2,191
Home runs	15
Runs batted in	525
Managerial record	418–435
Winning %	.490
Teams
As player Philadelphia Phillies (1970–1981) Chicago Cubs (1982–1985) New York Mets (1985) As manager San Diego Padres (1987–1988) Philadelphia Phillies (2001–2004) As coach Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1996) Anaheim Angels (1997–1999) Seattle Mariners (2000) New York Yankees (2006–2007) Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010) Philadelphia Phillies (2014–present)
Career highlights and awards
5× All-Star (1974–1976, 1978, 1979) World Series champion (1980) 2× Gold Glove Award (1972, 1978) NL Manager of the Year (2001)

As player

As manager

As coach

Lawrence Robert Bowa (born December 6, 1945) is a former professional baseball shortstop, former manager, and coach in Major League Baseball. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets; managed the San Diego Padres and Phillies, and is currently the Phillies' bench coach.

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 the game 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.

Characterized by his "soft" hands, strong arm, and fiery personality, he won two Gold Glove Awards and led the National League in fielding percentage six times, then a league record. He retired with the NL record for career games at shortstop (2222) and the Major League records for fielding average in a career (.980) and a single season (.991, in 1979), and was also among the career leaders in assists (sixth, 6857) and double plays (fourth, 1265); his records have since been broken, though he retains the NL mark for career fielding average.