Hal Stowe
American baseball player (born 1937)
Baseball player
Harold Rudolph Stowe (born August 29, 1937) is an American former professional baseball pitcher . Following his college baseball career with the Clemson Tigers , Stowe played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees in 1960.
Amateur career
Stowe is from Gastonia, North Carolina . He played in American Legion Baseball and led his team to the national finals in 1954.[ 1] [ 2] He attended Belmont High School in Belmont, North Carolina , and played for their baseball team.[ 3]
Stowe enrolled at Clemson University and played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers . As a junior in 1958, Stowe set school records with 14 wins , 21 games pitched , 15 games started , 126+ 2 ⁄3 innings pitched , and 126 strikeouts . His wins and strikeouts were the most in college baseball that season. Used as a stopper in 1959, he pitched in 19 of Clemson's 32 games.[ 4] [ 5] Stowe pitched for the Tigers in the 1959 College World Series (CWS),[ 6] and was named to the All-Tournament Team.[ 7] For his collegiate career, Stowe had a 24–13 win–loss record and a 2.32 earned run average (ERA).[ 8]
Professional career
Days after the 1959 CWS ended, the New York Yankees signed Stowe as an amateur free agent for a bonus reported to be above $20,000 ($209,041 in current dollar terms).[ 9] He reported to the Greensboro Yankees of the Class B Carolina League .[ 10] [ 11] Stowe also played for the Fargo-Moorhead Twins of the Class C Northern League and was assigned to the Florida Instructional League after the season.[ 12]
In 1960, Stowe pitched for the Amarillo Gold Sox of the Class AA Texas League , and had a 15–3 win–loss record and a 3.43 ERA.[ 8] Stowe appeared in one major league game, on September 30, 1960, pitching one inning against the Boston Red Sox .[ 13] He was optioned to the Richmond Virginians of the Class AAA International League in 1961,[ 14] but was demoted to Amarillo during the season.[ 15] He also pitched for Richmond in 1962 and 1963.[ 16]
In 1964, the Yankees released Stowe,[ 17] and he signed with the Minnesota Twins , who assigned him to the Charlotte Hornets of the Class AA Southern League .[ 8] [ 18] On July 11, he came into a tie game with two out and a runner on base. He picked off the baserunner, ending the inning without throwing a pitch, and earned the win after the team scored the go-ahead run in the next inning.[ 8] [ 19] Stowe retired after the season.[ 20]
Personal life
Stowe married Betty Jean Taylor on December 22, 1956.[ 21]
After his baseball career, Stowe operated his family restaurant in Gastonia.[ 22] He was inducted into the Clemson Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979.[ 13] The Clemson Tigers annually give the Hal Stowe Most Valuable Player Award to its top pitcher.[ 8]
References
^ Anderson, Jim (June 7, 1959). "Top of the Morning" . The Greenville News . p. 6. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Petit, Bernie (June 15, 2004). "Exhibit retells rich history of baseball players, teams" . The Charlotte Observer . p. L4. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Raiders Hit Shelby Lions In Davis Park" . The Gastonia Gazette . April 15, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Clemson Mentor Planning To Use Stowe In Relief" . Arizona Daily Star . Associated Press. June 12, 1959. p. 38. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Kelley, Whitey (April 29, 1980). "Stowe-Set Records Stand Test Of Time" . The Charlotte Observer . p. 22. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Clemson Banking On Stowe In World Series At Omaha" . The Times and Democrat . Associated Press. June 12, 1959. p. 7. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Shoemaker, Hall, B. Wilson Make Honor Team" . Arizona Daily Star . June 19, 1959. p. 37. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e Czerwinski, Kevin T. (May 11, 2007). "Stowe snags win without a pitch" . MiLB.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021 .
^ "Stowe Made Money By Waiting Another Year" . The Greenville News . June 18, 1959. p. 16. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Yanks Get Hal Stowe" . The Charlotte News . Associated Press. June 17, 1959. p. 8. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Anderson, Jim (June 24, 1959). "Top of the Morning" . The Greenville News . p. 4. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Buzzell, Cliff (October 15, 1959). "Sports Chaff" . Leader-Telegram . p. 17. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b Garrard, Lamar (July 26, 2018). "Baseball's Best: He got to pitch one inning as a Yankee" . The News-Reporter . Retrieved May 6, 2021 .
^ "Yanks Cut Four Players, Down To Limit" . El Paso Times . Associated Press. April 5, 1961. p. 15. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Sox Bats Bang Out 8-2 Win in the Valley" . The Amarillo Globe-Times . May 18, 1961. p. 21. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Yanks Sell Bronstad To Nats; Vees Announce Telecast Plans" . Daily Press . Associated Press. March 22, 1963. p. 17. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Myers, Bob (April 13, 1964). "Hornets Are Dickering With Bonus Boy Stowe" . The Charlotte News . p. 20. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Myers, Bob (April 16, 1964). "Hal Stowe Signs Pact With Hornets" . The Charlotte News . p. 20. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Browning, Wilt (July 12, 1964). "Stowe Wins Without A Pitch" . The Charlotte Observer . p. 51. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Myers, Bob (January 8, 1965). "Al Evans Has High Hopes, Seeks A Better Bee Squad" . The Charlotte News . p. 17. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Marriage of Taylor / Stowe" . The Charlotte Observer . January 1, 1957. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Oppel, Richard (November 17, 1982). "WWI Veterans Will Meet Until 'The Last Man' " . The Charlotte Observer . p. 2E. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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