5 Epic Larry Bowa stories in honor of the Phillies legend’s birthday

Happy birthday to Philadelphia Phillies legend and “lifer” Larry Bowa!

It’s Larry Bowa‘s birthday, and the longtime Philadelphia Phillies legend deserves his due.

He’s been with the organization for what feels like its entire existence, first as their shortstop, then as coach, manager, and now senior advisor to the GM. The self-proclaimed “Phillies lifer” (check out his Twitter bio) has been with the franchise through thick and thin.

So, in honor of Bowa’s 76th birthday, take a look at five of his most epic moments with his beloved Phranchise…

1. Larry Bowa made history by not hitting homers

Many baseball legends are remembered for how many home runs they hit; Bowa isn’t one of them. Over 9,109 plate appearances in his career, he only hit 15 home runs, the fewest by any player in MLB history with as many or more plate appearances. His home run count, on-base percentage, and slugging percentages are the lowest by any player with as many plate appearances.

2. The first hit at Veterans Stadium belonged to Larry Bowa

On April 10, 1971, the Phillies opened Veterans Stadium, their sparkling new replacement for Shibe Park/Connie Mack, their home since 1938. At the time of its opening, Veterans was the largest ballpark in the National League.

The inauguration of the Vet was an early afternoon game against the Montreal Expos. Both teams came into the early-season matchup 1-2 on the season. After Phillies starter Jim Bunning pitched a hitless top of the first, Bowa became the first Phillies player to step up to bat in their brand-new ballpark. The leadoff man singled to right-field for the first hit by any player at the Vet. He finished the day 2-for-4 (he also tripled) with a run scored and the Phillies won 4-1.

3. Larry Bowa was an ejection king

It wouldn’t a Bowa tribute without mention of his many, many ejections. In fact, if not for his propensity to get ejected, Bowa might have never become a big-leaguer.

Playing baseball at Sacramento City College, Bowa began impressing scouts. One day when his team was playing a doubleheader, Phillies scout Eddie Bockman watched Bowa get ejected in the second inning of the first game. Bockman then watched as hours later, Bowa got ejected from the second game, too.

Nevertheless, Bockman saw something in Bowa and convinced the Phillies to sign him as a free agent. Over the decades, Bowas accumulated 36 ejections as a member of the Phillies: eight as a player, five as a coach, and 23 as a manager. He doesn’t come close to the franchise record for manager ejections, which belongs to Charlie Manuel (41), but Bowa has brought plenty of fire to the franchise.

4. Larry Bowa and Charlie Manuel have an epic bromance

Bowa and Manuel are two of the more memorable skippers in franchise history, and have been friends since their minor-league days, despite playing for different franchises and Manuel replacing Bowa as Phillies manager in 2004. Bowa calls Manuel “Chuck,” and Manuel calls him “Bo.” They each have a Phillies World Series ring, Bowa’s from 1980, and Manuel’s from 2008.

“People don’t understand the love of the game we have. I don’t think there are two people that love this game more than Charlie and I do.”Larry Bowa

This year, the two former managers teamed up for their own show on NBC Sports Philadelphia called Down the Line with Charlie and Bo, and they have the absolute best time together.

5. Bowa is a Phillies postseason legend

As his home run count suggests, Bowa wasn’t exactly a power hitter – he never hit more than four home runs in a season – but he was certainly a clutch hitter in high-stakes situations.

Some players are regular-season superstars but shrink up under the bright lights of the postseason. But in the 1980 NLCS, Bowa rose to the challenge against the then-NL Houston Astros. He hit .316 with six hits in five games, two runs scored, and a stolen base. The most important hit of all came in Game 5, when Bowa’s leadoff single off Nolan Ryan ignited a five-run rally and come-from-behind victory.

Bowa would continue his offensive firestorm in the World Series, hitting .375 with three runs scored, to bring his team their first championship in the 98-year history of the franchise.

Happy birthday to one of the greatest Phillies to ever Phillie!