Kevin Towers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Towers
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Towers in 2007
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| Born | November 11, 1961 Medford, Oregon, U.S.
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| Died | January 30, 2018 (aged 56) San Diego, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | General manager |
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Kevin Scott Towers (born November 11, 1961 – died January 30, 2018) was an American baseball leader. He worked as the general manager for two Major League Baseball teams. These were the San Diego Padres from 1995 to 2009 and the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010 to 2014.
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Early Life and School
Kevin Towers grew up in Medford, Oregon. He went to North Medford High School. There, he was a talented athlete, playing baseball, football, and basketball. He finished high school in 1979.
Playing Baseball
Towers started his college baseball career at MiraCosta College. Later, he moved to Brigham Young University (BYU). He played for the BYU Cougars baseball team for one year. As a pitcher, he was chosen for the All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team.
The San Diego Padres picked him in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft. In 1984, he was named a Texas League all-star. Towers played in Minor League Baseball for seven years. He was part of the Padres' system, which helps young players develop. During his time, he pitched in 82 games as a starter.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing days, Towers stayed in baseball. In 1989 and 1990, he became a pitching coach for a minor league team. He also worked as a scout for the Padres and later for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A scout finds new talented players. In 1993, Towers returned to the Padres as their scouting director.
Becoming a General Manager
In 1995, Kevin Towers became the seventh general manager (GM) for the San Diego Padres. A GM is in charge of building the team. They decide which players to trade for, sign, or draft.
As GM, Towers helped the Padres win their division four times. They even made it to the 1998 World Series. After this success, voters in San Diego approved money for a new stadium, Petco Park. Towers was known for finding good pitchers that other teams had given up on. However, the Padres also finished last in their division five times during his time. The Padres let Towers go in 2009 after two difficult seasons. He then joined the New York Yankees as a special scout in 2010.
Leading the Diamondbacks
On September 22, 2010, the Arizona Diamondbacks hired Towers as their general manager. In his first year, the team had a great season. They won 94 games and the National League West Division title. This was a big change, as they had finished last the year before.
After the 2013 season, Towers made some changes to the team's coaching staff. On May 17, 2014, Tony La Russa was hired to oversee all baseball operations, including Towers' role. Towers was later removed from his GM position on September 5, 2014. He was offered another job with the team, but he chose not to take it. In 2015, he joined the Cincinnati Reds as a scout and special assistant.
Death and Legacy
Kevin Towers was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. He passed away from a type of thyroid cancer on January 30, 2018, in San Diego.
After his death, he was honored by the San Diego Padres. He was elected into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted on May 12, 2018. This was part of a special week celebrating the Padres' 1998 National League championship team.
Images for kids
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Towers in 2007
