Ralph Rowe facts for kids

Ralph Emanuel Rowe was an American baseball player, coach, and manager. He was born on July 14, 1924, in Newberry, South Carolina, and passed away on February 29, 1996. Ralph was known for his long career in baseball, especially in the minor leagues, and later as a coach in Major League Baseball. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall and threw with his right hand but batted with his left.

Early Baseball Days

Ralph Rowe started his professional baseball journey at 17 years old. He joined the Cleveland Indians team in 1942, right after finishing high school. His first year was fantastic! He played for the Thomasville Hi-Toms and had a great batting average of .357. This means he got a hit almost 36 times out of every 100 chances.

However, his baseball career was paused for four years, from 1943 to 1946, because he served in the military. When he returned, he continued to play well. In 1948, he batted .360 and led his league in "runs batted in" (RBI), which means he helped his teammates score a lot of runs. Even with these great skills, he spent most of his playing time in the minor leagues, which are like training leagues for the big teams.

Playing in the Minor Leagues

Ralph played for many different teams in the minor leagues. In 1949, he even got a short chance to play for the Los Angeles Angels, a Triple-A team, which is the highest level in the minor leagues. In 1951, while playing for the Nashville Vols, he was chosen for the Southern Association All-Star team, showing he was one of the best players in that league.

He played in the minor league systems for several famous teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Senators. He continued playing until 1958.

From Player to Manager

After his playing career, Ralph Rowe became a manager. A manager is like the head coach of a team, making decisions during games and guiding the players. He managed teams in the minor league systems for the Washington Senators and later the Minnesota Twins. He was a very successful manager, leading his teams to win four league championships between 1959 and 1971. His overall record as a manager was impressive, winning more than half of his games.

Coaching in the Major Leagues

When he was 47, Ralph Rowe finally reached Major League Baseball (MLB), the highest level of professional baseball. He became a coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1972 to 1975, working as their third base coach. This coach helps runners on base know when to run to the next base or stop.

Later, he coached for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981 to 1984, this time as their batting coach. He helped players improve their hitting skills. He was part of the Orioles' team when they won the World Series championship in 1983, which is a huge achievement in baseball!

Ralph also worked as a "roving" coach. This means he traveled around to different minor league teams for the Twins, Orioles, and later the Montreal Expos, helping young players develop their skills.

Life in Charlotte and Newberry

After playing for the baseball Hornets in 1958, Ralph Rowe moved his family to Charlotte, North Carolina. He continued to be involved with the Hornets, serving as a player-coach in 1961 and managing them to a championship in 1969.

In 1974, he moved back to his hometown of Newberry, South Carolina. He lived there until he passed away in 1996 at the age of 71. Ralph Rowe left a lasting mark on baseball, both as a player and as a coach and manager who helped many young players.