John Lowenstein
Encyclopedia
John Lee Lowenstein is a former professional baseball player who played Major League Baseball
primarily as an outfielder from to . He attended the University of California, Riverside
during his years in college.
for the Baltimore Orioles
.
Lowenstein hit an extra inning walk-off home run for the Baltimore Orioles
to win Game 1 of the 1979 American League playoffs against the California Angels. He also hit a home run for the Orioles in Game 2 of the 1983 World Series
.
Although he never played in a major league game for them, Lowenstein was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays
between the and seasons. He was traded by the Indians to the Blue Jays for designated hitter Rico Carty
, and reacquired in the same off-season for utility infielder Héctor Torres
.
In 1980, after being hit in the back of the neck on the basepaths with a thrown ball, Lowenstein was taken off the field on a stretcher. As he reached the dugout, he abruptly sat up, and pumped his fists to the crowd.
. After he was told before the 1996 season that he would not be retained, Lowenstein speculated that the Orioles put pressure on Home Team Sports to remove him from the booth.
In 1986, Lowenstein served as a backup color commentator (behind Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek
) on NBC's Game of the Week
broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Ted Robinson
. For example, Lowenstein and Robinson called the May 17 game between Kansas City
and the Chicago White Sox
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
primarily as an outfielder from to . He attended the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
during his years in college.
Playing career
Lowenstein is known for being part of platoon team with Gary RoenickeGary Roenicke
Gary Steven Roenicke is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Montreal Expos , Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves .-Early career:...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Lowenstein hit an extra inning walk-off home run for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
to win Game 1 of the 1979 American League playoffs against the California Angels. He also hit a home run for the Orioles in Game 2 of the 1983 World Series
1983 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandJohn Denver, whose Thank God I'm a Country Boy was played at the seventh-inning stretch of each Orioles home game, sang the National Anthem prior to this game....
.
Although he never played in a major league game for them, Lowenstein was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
between the and seasons. He was traded by the Indians to the Blue Jays for designated hitter Rico Carty
Rico Carty
Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed Beeg Boy, he played mostly as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to...
, and reacquired in the same off-season for utility infielder Héctor Torres
Héctor Torres
Héctor Epitacio Torres Marroquin is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors, between and , for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays...
.
In 1980, after being hit in the back of the neck on the basepaths with a thrown ball, Lowenstein was taken off the field on a stretcher. As he reached the dugout, he abruptly sat up, and pumped his fists to the crowd.
Broadcaster
Lowenstein was an announcer for Oriole television broadcasts on Home Team Sports for eleven seasons, working as an analyst with Mel ProctorMel Proctor
Mel Proctor is an American television sportscaster, actor, and book author.-Biography:A Denver, Colorado native, Proctor has called play-by-play for such teams as the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Clippers at various points in his career...
. After he was told before the 1996 season that he would not be retained, Lowenstein speculated that the Orioles put pressure on Home Team Sports to remove him from the booth.
In 1986, Lowenstein served as a backup color commentator (behind Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
) on NBC's Game of the Week
Major League Baseball Game of the Week
The Major League Baseball Game of the Week is the de facto title for over-the-air, nationally televised coverage of regular season Major League Baseball games...
broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Ted Robinson
Ted Robinson
Ted Robinson is the name of:*Ted Robinson , Golf course architect*Ted Robinson , American sportscaster...
. For example, Lowenstein and Robinson called the May 17 game between Kansas City
1986 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 3rd in the American League West with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.-Notable transactions:...
and the Chicago White Sox
1986 Chicago White Sox season
The 1986 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 87th season. They finished with a record 72-90, good enough for 5th place in the American League West, 20 games behind of the 1st place California Angels.-Offseason:...
.