Charlie Bowles
Encyclopedia
Charles James Bowles was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1943 and 1945. He later managed in the minor leagues.
, at the age of 20. He went 16-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 games (19 starts) that year. He spent 1938 with the Welch Miners
and Bluefield Blue-Grays, going a combined 8-11 with a 5.20 ERA in 27 games. He played with Welch again in 1939, going 9-8 with a 5.43 ERA in 20 games (16 starts).
He went 6-3 with a 5.81 ERA in 23 games for the Monroe White Sox
in 1940. In 1941, he played for the Monroe White Sox and El Dorado Oilers
, going a combined 8-13 with a 6.14 ERA. He split the 1942 season between the Lancaster Red Roses
and Richmond Colts
, going a combined 10-13 with an unknown overall ERA. His ERA with the Red Roses, however, was 3.22.
He spent most of 1943 with the Red Roses, going 19-14 with a 3.52 ERA. On September 25, 1943, he made his big league debut. He started two games with the Athletics that year, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. He did not play in 1944, and he made eight appearances for the Athletics in 1945, starting four of the games. That year, he went 0-3 with a 5.13 ERA. On September 19, 1945, he appeared in his final big league game.
Although his major league career was over, his professional career was not. He split 1946 between the Red Roses and Atlanta Crackers
, going 2-5 in 24 games. With the St. Petersburg Saints
in 1947, he went 14-14 with a 3.35 ERA. He was with the Palatka Azaleas
and St. Petersburg Saints in 1948, going a combined 8-7 with a 4.44 ERA in 33 games. He spent part of the year as the Azaleas' manager, his first foray into minor league managing.
In 1949, he was one of a few managers for the Salisbury Pirates
. He did not play at all that year. Similarly, he did not play in 1950, as he served as the Waterbury Timers
manager for part of the season. Again, in 1951 he did not play at all, as he served as manager of the Granite Falls Graniteers
for part of the season.
He resumed playing in 1952, though on a limited basis - in 1952 with the Charleston Senators
, he went 0-1 with a 58.50 ERA in two games. He also managed the Hickory Rebels
for part of the 1952 season. He played in 23 games, making six starts, for the
Wilkes-Barre Barons
in 1953, going 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA. He finished his career in 1954, appearing in one game for the Winston-Salem Twins.
Overall, he went 1-4 with a 4.38 ERA in 10 major league games (six starts). In the minors, he went 105-98 with an ERA around 4.28 in 324 games.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1943 and 1945. He later managed in the minor leagues.
Playing career
Bowles began his professional career in 1937 with the Beckley BengalsBeckley Bengals
The Beckley Bengals were a Mountain State League baseball team based in Beckley, West Virginia, USA that existed from 1938 to 1939. They played under manager Eli Harris and won the league championship both seasons. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers in 1937....
, at the age of 20. He went 16-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 games (19 starts) that year. He spent 1938 with the Welch Miners
Welch Miners
The Welch Miners were a Minor league baseball team based in Welch, West Virginia. The team operated from 1937 through 1942 in the Mountain State League and in the Appalachian League from 1946 to 1955...
and Bluefield Blue-Grays, going a combined 8-11 with a 5.20 ERA in 27 games. He played with Welch again in 1939, going 9-8 with a 5.43 ERA in 20 games (16 starts).
He went 6-3 with a 5.81 ERA in 23 games for the Monroe White Sox
Monroe White Sox
The Monroe White Sox were a Cotton States League baseball team based in Monroe, Louisiana, USA that existed from 1938 to 1941. They were affiliated with the Dallas Steers in 1938 and the Dallas Rebels in 1939. They played their home games at Casino Park....
in 1940. In 1941, he played for the Monroe White Sox and El Dorado Oilers
El Dorado Oilers
The El Dorado Oilers Cotton States League baseball team based in El Dorado, Arkansas that played in 1941 and from 1947 to 1955. They also played as the El Dorado Lions from 1936 to 1940. They were affiliated with the New York Giants in 1951....
, going a combined 8-13 with a 6.14 ERA. He split the 1942 season between the Lancaster Red Roses
Lancaster Red Roses
The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of...
and Richmond Colts
Richmond Colts
The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League in 1894, and in another Virginia League in 1900, and another Virginia League from 1906–1914 and from 1918-1928...
, going a combined 10-13 with an unknown overall ERA. His ERA with the Red Roses, however, was 3.22.
He spent most of 1943 with the Red Roses, going 19-14 with a 3.52 ERA. On September 25, 1943, he made his big league debut. He started two games with the Athletics that year, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. He did not play in 1944, and he made eight appearances for the Athletics in 1945, starting four of the games. That year, he went 0-3 with a 5.13 ERA. On September 19, 1945, he appeared in his final big league game.
Although his major league career was over, his professional career was not. He split 1946 between the Red Roses and Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
, going 2-5 in 24 games. With the St. Petersburg Saints
St. Petersburg Saints
The St. Petersburg Saints were a minor league baseball team that operated out of St.Petersburg, Florida. The team began as a semi-pro team and as early as October 1908, the semi-pro Saints played the Cincinnati Reds in a post-season exhibition game. By 1914, the Saints were receiving regular...
in 1947, he went 14-14 with a 3.35 ERA. He was with the Palatka Azaleas
Palatka Azaleas
The Palatka Azaleas were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1936 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1953. They played in the Florida State League. In 1936, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, in 1937 they were affiliated with the New York Yankees, and in 1949 they were affiliated with...
and St. Petersburg Saints in 1948, going a combined 8-7 with a 4.44 ERA in 33 games. He spent part of the year as the Azaleas' manager, his first foray into minor league managing.
In 1949, he was one of a few managers for the Salisbury Pirates
Salisbury Pirates
The Salisbury Pirates were a North Carolina State League baseball team based in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA that played from 1945 to 1952 and who were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1945 to 1951....
. He did not play at all that year. Similarly, he did not play in 1950, as he served as the Waterbury Timers
Waterbury Timers
The Waterbury Timers were a Colonial League baseball team based in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA that existed from 1947 to 1950. Hank LaManna and Bert Shepard played for them....
manager for part of the season. Again, in 1951 he did not play at all, as he served as manager of the Granite Falls Graniteers
Granite Falls Graniteers
The Granite Falls Graniteers were a Western Carolina League baseball team based in Granite Falls, North Carolina, USA that existed for only one season, 1951. They used five different managers and won only 14 games, while losing 96....
for part of the season.
He resumed playing in 1952, though on a limited basis - in 1952 with the Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
, he went 0-1 with a 58.50 ERA in two games. He also managed the Hickory Rebels
Hickory Rebels
The Hickory Rebels were a minor league baseball team based in Hickory, North Carolina, USA that existed on-and-off from 1939 to 1960. They played in the Tar Heel League , North Carolina State League and Western Carolinas League . They were affiliated with the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs ....
for part of the 1952 season. He played in 23 games, making six starts, for the
Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league team that existed on and off from 1888 to 1955. They began in the Central League in 1888, but the league disbanded after that season. Their next incarnation came about in 1905, when they began playing in the New York State League. They played in that...
in 1953, going 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA. He finished his career in 1954, appearing in one game for the Winston-Salem Twins.
Overall, he went 1-4 with a 4.38 ERA in 10 major league games (six starts). In the minors, he went 105-98 with an ERA around 4.28 in 324 games.