Mickey Bowers
Encyclopedia
Allen LaGrant "Mickey" Bowers (born February 27, 1949, at Maxton, North Carolina
) is a retired American
professional baseball
player, scout, coach
and manager
whose entire uniformed career took place in minor league baseball
. An outfielder
, Bowers threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Bowers graduated from Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria, Virginia) and attended Northern Virginia College. He entered professional baseball in in the Philadelphia Phillies
' organization and in his finest season, , he batted
.308 with 124 hits
, 10 home runs and 73 runs batted in in 106 games played
for the Spartanburg Phillies of the Class A Western Carolinas League
. However, his career was highlighted by an incident in his first game as a professional in the Short Season-A Northern League
. On July 4, 1968, Bowers, playing right field for the Huron Phillies, ran through an outfield fence while chasing a foul fly ball. He emerged from the hole in the fence unhurt — although he did not make the catch. He retired as an active player after the 1970 season and then served six years as a police officer in Washington, D.C.
, before returning to baseball as a member of the Major League Scouting Bureau.
In 1978, Bowers became a coach in the Seattle Mariners
' farm system. After two seasons (1980–1981) as a coach with the Lynn Sailors
of the Double-A Eastern League, Bowers managed the 1982 Sailors to an 82–57 mark and the North Division title. His players included future Major Leaguers
Alvin Davis
, Jim Presley
and Harold Reynolds
. Seattle moved its Double-A affiliate the following year to the Chattanooga Lookouts
of the Southern League
. Bowers was replaced as skipper in midseason as the Lookouts finished below .500, despite contributions from future MLB stars Ivan Calderón
, Darnell Coles
, Mark Langston
and Danny Tartabull
.
Maxton, North Carolina
Maxton is a town in Robeson County and Scotland County Counties, North Carolina, in the United States. The population was 2,551 at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census.-History:...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, scout, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
whose entire uniformed career took place in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. An outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, Bowers threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Bowers graduated from Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria, Virginia) and attended Northern Virginia College. He entered professional baseball in in the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' organization and in his finest season, , he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.308 with 124 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 10 home runs and 73 runs batted in in 106 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
for the Spartanburg Phillies of the Class A Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
. However, his career was highlighted by an incident in his first game as a professional in the Short Season-A Northern League
Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)
This article refers to the original incarnations of the Northern League, which operated between 1902 and 1971. For the more recent league, see Northern League ...
. On July 4, 1968, Bowers, playing right field for the Huron Phillies, ran through an outfield fence while chasing a foul fly ball. He emerged from the hole in the fence unhurt — although he did not make the catch. He retired as an active player after the 1970 season and then served six years as a police officer in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, before returning to baseball as a member of the Major League Scouting Bureau.
In 1978, Bowers became a coach in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
' farm system. After two seasons (1980–1981) as a coach with the Lynn Sailors
Lynn Sailors
The Lynn Sailors were a class AA American minor league baseball team affiliated with the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates. They were a member of the Eastern League and played at Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts from 1980-1983....
of the Double-A Eastern League, Bowers managed the 1982 Sailors to an 82–57 mark and the North Division title. His players included future Major Leaguers
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...
Alvin Davis
Alvin Davis
Alvin Glenn Davis , nicknamed "Mr. Mariner", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. Davis played his career primarily for the Seattle Mariners...
, Jim Presley
Jim Presley
James Arthur Presley is a former Major League Baseball infielder with an eight year career from 1984 to 1991. He played for the Seattle Mariners of the American League and the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres of the National League. He was primarily a third baseman but also saw some time...
and Harold Reynolds
Harold Reynolds
Harold Craig Reynolds is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played from 1983–1994, primarily for the Seattle Mariners.-High school:...
. Seattle moved its Double-A affiliate the following year to the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. Bowers was replaced as skipper in midseason as the Lookouts finished below .500, despite contributions from future MLB stars Ivan Calderón
Ivan Calderón
Iván Calderón can refer to:*Iván Calderón *Iván Calderón...
, Darnell Coles
Darnell Coles
Darnell Coles is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball player who played primarily as a third baseman and outfielder from to...
, Mark Langston
Mark Langston
Mark Edward Langston is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners , Montreal Expos , California and Anaheim Angels , San Diego Padres , and Cleveland Indians...
and Danny Tartabull
Danny Tartabull
Danilo Tartabull Mora , also known as Danny Tartabull, is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. Born to Cuban parents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he is the son of José Tartabull, who played in the major leagues from 1962 to 1970.-Playing career:Danny played for the Seattle Mariners ,...
.