Former Phillie Larry Bowa, left, awaits the opening pitch with IronPigs manager Ryne Sandberg at Coca-Cola Park. His playing days are long over, but Larry Bowa will never lose his enthusiasm for baseball.
The former standout
shortstop made a special appearance at Coca-Cola Park tonight as part of a tribute to former teammate and current IronPigs manager,
.
Bowa tossed out the ceremonial first pitch and signed autographs prior to the International League game between the
and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Bowa and Sandberg were traded from the Phillies to the
for shortstop Ivan DeJesus in 1982. Sandberg, then a young second baseman in the Phillies’ minor league system, proceeded to have a Hall of Fame career.
Sandberg was originally thought to be a minor player in the trade.
Bowa emphasized that the IronPigs’ stadium and facilities are basically off the charts.
Bowa is as surprised as anyone that Sandberg has yet to land a managing job in the Major Leagues.
One of Bowa’s biggest disappointments occurred in 1984, when the Cubs won the first two games of the best-of-five National League championship series to
before dropping the next three.
Not surprisingly, Bowa’s greatest thrill was winning the World Series as a member of the Phillies in 1980.
One of Bowa’s most memorable games was in May 1979, when his Phillies won a wild and woolly 23-22 10 inning game over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The game has changed drastically since Bowa began in the Major Leagues in 1970.
Bowa admits he was disappointed to leave the Phillies organization.
Bowa will always be remembered for his fiery personality on the field.
Bowa is optimistic about the future of the Phillies’ organization.