Sam Bowens

Samuel Edward Bowens
Born: March 23, 1939 in Wilmington, NC
Died: March 28, 2003 in Wilmington, NC
Debut: 1963 | Pos: OF
H: 6-2 | W: 195 | B: R | T: R

>> Visit the Sam Bowens biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

Sam Bowens, an outfielder for the Orioles and Senators, died on March 28, 2003 in Wilmington, N.C. He was 64.

His major league career included stops with the Orioles (1963-67) and the Senators (1968-69).

Bowens' best season came in 1964 when he hit 22 home runs and drove in 71 runs for the Orioles. He batted .263 in 501 at-bats. In his career, Bowens hit 45 home runs and drove in 143 runs.

After his strong effort in 1964, Bowens' hitting ability began to slide. He later said it was the result of a beaning in 1965.

"It affected my hitting," Bowens said, as reported in his obituary. "I'd pull my head out up there. I wouldn't stay with the inside pitchers. I would bail out and drop my hands."

He played in the Negro Leagues in 1957-58 with the Nashville Elite Giants. He also played for the Rochester Red Wings (1962-63, 65).

Sources: Wilmington Star-News obituary, Associated Press, Total Baseball