CLEARWATER, Fla – In 1974, Larry Bowa was a fixture at Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training. In 2004, Bowa was a fixture at Phillies Spring Training. In 2034, Bowa will probably be a fixture at Phillies Spring Training.
The 78-year-old has been front-and-center during Spring Training in 2024, and if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was 20 years younger than he is. Bowa isn’t in camp symbolically. He still throws batting practice to MLB-caliber hitters. He uses a fungo bat to hit fielding practice to players that are, in some cases, nearly 60 years younger than him.
Bowa estimates that he’s the all-time leader in fungo bat swings in the Phillies organization, and jokes that he and Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington would be “neck and neck” for the lead among all those who have coached in MLB history.
So what’s been the key to Bowa’s longevity?
“I’ve been very fortunate health wise,” Bowa said. “I’ve been very fortunate that the Phillie organization — John Middleton, [Dave] Dombrowski … even before that, [Matt] Klentak, Ruben [Amaro Jr.] … all the guys who were GMs — let me come back and do my thing.
“Obviously, I owe everything to the Phillies for letting me stay in uniform this long,” Bowa continued. “I just like it. I have a good time down here. When you’re around these young guys, it makes you feel younger. But as long as I can do it, I’m gonna keep doing it. There’s probably gonna be a time when I can’t. But until that time comes, [I’ll go] as long as the Phillies keep letting me do my thing. Because I have a ball down here.”
As far as Phillies Spring Training games attended, it’s hard to think of anyone who would have Bowa topped in that category. Perhaps long-time broadcaster and current spring public address voice Chris Wheeler?
“Me,” Bowa said immediately when asked whether he or Wheeler has been at more Phillies Spring Training games. “Wheels came after me. He’ll be the first to tell you that.”
Not only does Bowa have Wheeler topped in terms of career Phillies Spring Training games, but he reached another milestone before his long-time friend — getting a hole-in-one on the golf course. In February, Bowa achieved the athletic bucket-list feat during the annual golf outing that the Phillies hold.
Bowa says he’s hardly a Tiger Woods-esque golfer, which made it even more amazing for him to record a hole-in-one.
“My hole in one was complete luck,” Bowa said. “It was one of those shots where if I had to do it, I could shoot 2,000 balls, and 2,000 wouldn’t even get close.”
“In fact, Wheels is so mad at me,” Bowa went on. “He golfs every day. He’s never gotten a hole-in-one. He said, ‘How’d you get a hole in one?’ I said, ‘Hey.'”
Bowa did acknowledge that his next shot — on a par-four hole — went beyond the woods into a residential area. But hole-in-ones fly forever, and Bowa is forever part of an exclusive club of golfers to achieve the feat.
And he’s seemingly forever going to be a part of Phillies Spring Training at Clearwater. Bowa wouldn’t want it any other way.
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Dominic Marks
March 10, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Bowa is my all time favorite player. When they traded him to Cubs, I was so pissed off I rooted against them that whole year. Glad he forgave them n came back to the Phillies.
Robert Jonas
March 17, 2024 at 11:45 am
I have fond memories of sitting on the third base side of Veteran’s Stadium and watching Schmidt and Bowa prowl the infield. Both of those guys were in constant motion while waiting for a pitch to be thrown. This is why I considered this tandem to one of the best defensive duos in the history of baseball.
Laurie S.
March 18, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Oh yes! Me too! I got an authentic Cubs jersey with his name and number. I still have it, although it is dangerous to wear it in Cardinal Nation. 🙂