Sam Bowens facts for kids

Samuel Edward Bowens (born March 23, 1938 – died March 28, 2003) was a baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Sam Bowens played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1963 to 1967. He also played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1969.

Sam Bowens batted and threw with his right hand. He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. During his time playing baseball, people thought he had one of the strongest throwing arms in the league. His career ended sooner than expected because of knee injuries. A former teammate, Wally Bunker, once said that Sam Bowens was "one of the nicest people I have ever met."

Early Baseball Career

Sam Bowens was a talented athlete. He played four different sports when he was in high school. He went to Williston High School in Wilmington.

In 1960, he started his professional baseball journey. He received a $5,000 signing bonus from the Baltimore Orioles. This is money given to a player when they sign their first contract. He began playing in the minor leagues. He played for teams like the Bluefield Orioles and the Leesburg Orioles.

Playing in Major League Baseball

Sam Bowens made his debut in Major League Baseball in 1963. He played in 15 games that year. He had a good batting average of .333. He also hit one home run and had nine runs batted in (RBI).

His first full season was in 1964. It was a very strong year for him. He batted .263 and hit 22 home runs. He also had 71 RBI, 58 runs, and 132 hits. He played in 139 games that season.

In 1965, he played in 84 games. He hit seven home runs and had 20 RBI. In 1966, he batted .210 in 89 games. He was part of the 1966 World Series champion Orioles team. Even though he was on the team, he did not play in any of the World Series games.

After the 1967 season, Sam Bowens joined the Washington Senators. He played for them in 1968 and 1969. He finished his career with the Senators.

Over his seven seasons in Major League Baseball, Sam Bowens played in 479 games. He had a career batting average of .223. He hit 45 home runs and had 143 RBI in total.

Later Life

Sam Bowens had three children. He lived in Indianapolis for some time. In the mid-1980s, he moved back to his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. He spent his last year living in a nursing home in Wilmington. Sam Bowens passed away there at the age of 65.