Ralph Emanuel Rowe (July 14, 1924 – February 29, 1996) was an Americanoutfielder andmanager inminor league baseball, and acoach at theMajor League level. A native ofNewberry, South Carolina, Rowe threw right-handed, batted left-handed, stood 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).
He was signed at age 17 by theCleveland Indians after graduating from Newberry High School in 1942. Rowe's professional career got off to a rousing start in 1942, when hebatted .357 for theThomasville Hi-Toms, a Cleveland affiliate in the Class DNorth Carolina State League. But he lost the next four full seasons (1943–1946) to military service and, despite batting .360 and leading the 1948 Class BTri-State League inruns batted in (123), he spent most of his playing career at the Double-A level. Rowe's career reached its apex with a 14-game trial with theLos Angeles Angels of theTriple-APacific Coast League in 1949. In 1951, while playing for theNashville Vols, Rowe was named to theSouthern Association All-Star team.[1][2] He played in thefarm systems of the Indians,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox andWashington Senators through 1958, then became a manager in the Washington/Minnesota Twins farm system from 1959 to 1971, winning four league championships. His overall record was 836–757 (.525).
At age 47, he reached the Major Leagues as a coach, serving for four seasons with the Twins (1972–1975) as their third base coach, and four more (1981–1984) as the batting coach of theBaltimore Orioles. He was a member of the Orioles' staff during their1983world championship season. Rowe also served as a roving minor league batting coach for the Twins, Orioles, and, after 1984, theMontreal Expos.
Rowe moved his family toCharlotte, North Carolina, after he played for thebaseball Hornets in 1958. While living in Charlotte, he was aplayer-coach for the Hornets in 1961, and managed the 1969 Hornets to theDouble-ASouthern League championship. After returning to his home town of Newberry in 1974, he lived there until his death in 1996 at age 71.
| Preceded by | Portland Beaversmanager 1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minnesota Twins third base coach 1972–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Baltimore Orioles hitting coach 1981–1984 | Succeeded by |