Larry Bowa

Lawrence Robert Bowa, born December 6, 1945, in Sacramento, California, is an American former professional baseball shortstop, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball. He was the son of Paul Bowa, a former minor-league infielder and manager in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. Bowa attended C. K. McClatchy High School, where he tried out but never made the school's baseball team. He went on to Sacramento City College, where he started and was expected to be selected in the MLB draft, but went unchosen. The Philadelphia Phillies were the only major-league club interested in him. The Phillies sent local scout Eddie Bockman to watch Bowa play a doubleheader, only for Bowa to be ejected from both games for arguing. Bockman, who ran a winter-league team in the area, offered Bowa a chance to play; Bowa performed well and signed with the Phillies for a $2,000 bonus. After four years in the minor leagues, he made the Phillies' roster in 1970 at the age of 24.

As a player, Bowa appeared for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Mets. He won two Gold Glove Awards. After his playing career, Bowa went on to manage the San Diego Padres and the Phillies.