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Larry Bowa began his 16-year big league career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1970. A third-place finish in Rookie of the Year balloting served as a prelude to a fine career.

During his dozen seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, Bowa established himself as one of the most durable and reliable shortstops of his era. Fleet of foot, he averaged 24 stolen bases and 145 games per season for the Phillies.

The team’s starting shortstop throughout his tenure there, Bowa earned two Gold Glove Awards, made five All Star Games, and earned MVP consideration in three seasons. From 1976 until 1981 Bowa and the Phillies made the postseason five times.

His finest campaign came in 1978 for the 90-win Eastern Division champions. In addition to earning a Gold Glove, Bowa set career highs in hits, doubles, homers, total bases and WAR. The performance earned him a third-place finish in the MVP race behind Dave Parker and Steve Garvey.

In 1980 Philadelphia won the NL East for the fourth time in five years. Bowa hit .316 in the NLCS victory over Bill Virdon’s Houston Astros. In the Fall Classic Bowa hit .375 to help bring the Phillies their first World Series championship in franchise history.

The 1981 season was Bowa’s last in Philadelphia. When he was traded to the Cubs in January of ’82, only Richie Ashburn played more games in a Phillies uniform. Bowa also stood fourth on the franchise hit list behind Ashburn, Ed Delahanty, and Del Ennis.

The deal sending Bowa to Chicago was ill-fated for the Phillies. Included in the trade was 22-year old prospect and future Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Bowa and Sandberg were traded for Ivan DeJesus.

Larry Bowa began his 16-year MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1970. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, signaling a promising future.

Bowa played twelve seasons in Philadelphia, establishing himself as a reliable shortstop. His speed and durability stood out, averaging 145 games and 24 stolen bases per season.

As the Phillies’ starting shortstop, Bowa earned two Gold Gloves, five All-Star selections, and three MVP considerations. From 1976 to 1981, he helped the team reach the postseason five times.

Bowa had his best season in 1978. He won a Gold Glove, set career highs in several stats, and finished third in the MVP race.

In 1980, Bowa contributed to the Phillies’ fourth NL East title in five years. He hit .316 in the NLCS and .375 in the World Series, helping secure the team’s first championship.

Bowa’s last season in Philadelphia was 1981. In January 1982, the Phillies traded him to the Cubs. He ranked fourth on the franchise’s hit list.

The trade involved future Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who was sent to the Phillies with Ivan DeJesus.

Bowa played two more years as a regular. In 1983, he posted a 3.0 WAR and was part of the Cubs’ 1984 division-winning team.

Bowa’s final MLB season came in 1985. He played 72 games with the Cubs before they released him. He then joined the Mets, but retired after 14 games, hitting .105.

At retirement, Bowa held the MLB record for the highest fielding percentage by a shortstop with at least 500 games played. He also held the NL career record for most games at shortstop.

Bowa batted .280 or better four times, including a .305 season in 1975. He stole 20 or more bases in nine seasons and finished with 2,191 career hits.

The image shows a 1970 Topps card signed by Bowa. It was his first appearance in a Topps set.

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Larry Bowa, a light hitter, batted .260/.300/.320 over his 16-year career. He was known for defense, leadership, and fiery play but rarely posed a batting threat.

On May 17, 1979, Bowa’s best offensive performance came in a wind-swept Wrigley Field. His Phillies won 23-22 in 10 innings. Bowa went 5-for-8 with two doubles, an RBI, four runs, and five hits. It was his best showing in 2,247 career games.

The game began with the Phillies scoring seven in the first inning. The Cubs responded with six of their own. Bowa’s team then added eight runs in the third and two more in the fourth. Down 17-6, Chicago kept fighting, scoring three in the fourth. In the fifth, the Phillies added four more, making it 21-9.

The Cubs answered with seven runs in the fifth, keyed by Bill Buckner’s grand slam. That cut the visitor’s lead to 21-16. Chicago scored three more in the sixth to make it 21-19. In the seventh, Bob Boone doubled to score the Phillies’ 22nd run. Buckner then drove in his seventh run in the eighth. Four batters later, the score was tied 22-22.

In the 10th inning, Mike Schmidt hit his second homer – the game’s 11th – to give the Phillies the lead. Rawley Eastwick retired the Cubs to end the game.

In the questionnaire shown above handwritten and signed by Bowa, the shortstop recalls the wild day.

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On January 27, 1982, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg to Chicago for Ivan DeJesus. Sandberg, the 1984 National League MVP, set the career home run record for second basemen. He became a ten-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glover, and seven-time Silver Slugger, earning a 2005 Hall of Fame induction.

DeJesus played in only 545 games after the trade. He suited up for five teams before retiring in 1988. Bowa played four more seasons following the deal.

The collection includes a signed Topps contract from March 20, 1989, allowing Ryno to appear on cards until 1992.

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After retiring as a player in 1985, Larry Bowa stayed in baseball. The Padres hired him in 1986 to manage their Triple-A team in Las Vegas. Bowa’s fiery leadership led the team to the PCL championship.

The Padres announced Bowa as their manager the day after the Mets won the World Series. In 1987, Bowa’s team finished with a 65-97 record. Tony Gwynn had a standout season, hitting .370 and winning his second batting title. Gwynn also posted a career-high and NL-best 8.6 WAR.

Bowa returned in 1988 but was fired on May 28 after a 16-30 start.

The Phillies hired Bowa as third-base coach on August 11, 1988. He held that position until 1996. In 1997, Bowa joined the Angels as a coach, then moved to the Mariners in 2000.

Meanwhile, the Phillies struggled through their seventh straight losing season. They fired manager Terry Francona after the season and hired Bowa. With much of the same roster, Bowa led the Phillies into contention. They held first place on September 23 but finished second behind the Braves. Bowa won Manager of the Year for the turnaround.

The Phillies finished third in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, Bowa had them in second place late in the season. With two games left and the team 10 games out of first, Bowa was fired. That was his final managerial job. His career record stood at 418-435. Bowa continued coaching with the Yankees, Dodgers, and Phillies until 2017.

Bowa remains beloved in Philadelphia. In 1983, he earned a spot on the Phillies’ centennial team. In 2001, the team inducted him into their Wall of Fame. When they moved to Citizens Bank Ballpark in 2004, Bowa was named to the all-Veterans Stadium team.

The scouting report on Tony Gwynn from 1988, when Bowa managed the Padres, notes that Gwynn “missed most of Spring Training with an operation on his left thumb.” The report praised Gwynn, stating, “Nothing much he does not hit.”