April 23, 2016 – Larry Bowa embodies the definition of a baseball “lifer.” The son of a minor-league infielder and manager, he has spent his entire adult life in the game, as a player, coach, and manager. Not blessed with exceptional talent, Bowa was a quintessential hard-nosed ballplayer and overachiever. Through determination and tireless effort, the 5-foot-10, 155-pound infielder from Sacramento became a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner in a 16-year big-league career (1970-85) with the Phillies, Cubs and Mets. Beginning in his rookie season, he was a starting shortstop for 15 consecutive years, 12 with the Phillies, three with the Cubs. His best season came in 1978 when he finished third in the MVP vote.

He managed the Padres in 1987 and part of 1998, then managed the Phillies for four years (2001-04). After leading the team to its first winning record since 1993, he was named NL Manager of the Year in 2001 . He also coached for the Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Dodgers, and Phillies. In 2017, his 43rd season in the majors and 33rd with the Phillies, Bowa was in his fourth season as their bench coach. In 1991 he was inducted into the Phillies’ Wall of Fame.

Always candid and outspoken, he pulls no punches in expressing his old-school opinions about the way the game should be played, how it’s changed since his playing days, the skills and attitudes of current players, and the importance of fundamentals and hard work.