| Art Fowler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1922-07-03)July 3, 1922 Converse, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: January 29, 2007(2007-01-29) (aged 84) Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 1954, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 4, 1964, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 54–51 |
| Earned run average | 4.03 |
| Strikeouts | 539 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach | |
John Arthur Fowler (July 3, 1922 – January 29, 2007) was an Americanpitcher andpitching coach inMajor League Baseball. The 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 180 lb (82 kg) right-hander was signed by theNew York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1944 season. He played for theCincinnati Redlegs (1954–57),Los Angeles Dodgers (1959), andLos Angeles Angels (1961–64), and went on to be associated with managerBilly Martin as a coach with five major league teams, including four stops with theNew York Yankees.
Fowler was born inConverse, South Carolina.[1] His brotherJesse pitched for the1924St. Louis Cardinals. Jesse was nearly 24 years older than Art, and the Fowlers hold the record for the largest age difference between brothers who played Major League baseball. Art Fowler pitched 10 years in theminor leagues with a record of 140–94. He ledSouthern Association pitchers in games pitched (54), innings pitched (261), hits allowed (273), and ERA (3.03) while playing for theAtlanta Crackers in 1953, and ledCarolina League pitchers with 23 wins while playing for theDanville Leafs in 1945.
Finally reaching the major leagues at the age of 31, Fowler made his major league debut inrelief on April 17, 1954, against theMilwaukee Braves atMilwaukee County Stadium. His first big leaguewin came in his first start, a 3–2 victory over theChicago Cubs on April 25 atCrosley Field. He had a good rookie season, finishing 12–10 with a 3.83earned run average. He ranked ninth in theNational League with 2272⁄3innings pitched. In 1955 and 1956, his last years as a regular starter, he combined for a 22–21 record with an ERA of 3.97. He started seven games for Cincinnati in 1957, and then appeared almost exclusively in relief thereafter.
After a poor year with the Dodgers in 1959, Fowler resurfaced in the major leagues in 1961 at age 38 with the expansion Los Angeles Angels. He, along withTom Morgan, and laterJack Spring andJulio Navarro, were the Angels' most reliable pitchers out of the bullpen during their first three seasons. Fowler's combined record from 1961 to 1963 was 14–14 with 26saves and a 2.96 ERA in 158 games. He was released by the Angels on May 15, 1964, at age 41, the oldest player to appear in anAmerican League game that season. His major league career totals include a 54–51 record in 362games pitched, 90games started, 25complete games, 4shutouts, 134games finished, 32 saves, and an ERA of 4.03.[2][3]
He spent the rest of 1964 as a batting practice pitcher for the Angels, but his active playing career was not over. In 1965, he signed with theTriple-ADenver Bears as a pitcher-coach, and between 1965–68 and in 1970 he worked in a total of 211games pitched and compiled a 27–15won-lost record. On May 27, 1968,Billy Martin became manager of the Bears, and he and Fowler began a long friendship and professional association. Fowler served as Martin's pitching coach with theMinnesota Twins (1969),Detroit Tigers (1971–73),Texas Rangers (1974–75), Yankees (1977–79, 1983, 1988), andOakland Athletics (1980–82). Under his tutelage,Ron Guidry won theCy Young Award in 1978.
Fowler died on January 29, 2007, at age 84 inSpartanburg, South Carolina. He is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg,Spartanburg County, South Carolina.[4]
In the 2007ESPN miniseriesThe Bronx is Burning, Fowler was portrayed by actor Bill Buell.