Larry Gowell
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Clyde "Larry" Gowell (born May 2, 1948 in Lewiston, Maine
) is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the New York Yankees
in . Gowell was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1967 amateur draft, on June 6, 1967. After winning
every game at Edward Little High School
in Auburn, Maine
, he was signed by the Yankees to a professional contract. He pitched in the minor leagues
for six years before making his major league debut, after winning 11 games in a row in double-A. Gowell was listed at 6' 2" in height, and 182 in weight.
. The game was held at County Stadium, with 4,185 people attending the game. Gowell was called to replace Rusty Torres
pitching and batting ninth in the bottom of the sixth inning
. He pitched two innings with one strikeout
. Felipe Alou was then called to pinch hit
for Gowell in the top of the eighth inning. The Yankees lost the game 6-4. On October 4, Gowell hit a double
on a 3 balls-2 strike count, hitting a fastball
by pitcher Jim Lonborg
for his first and only major league hit
and the last hit by a pitcher in a regular season American League
game before the start of the designated hitter
rule. The baseball that Gowell hit was accepted as a historical baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
, in Cooperstown, New York
, where it now resides.
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
) is a former right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in . Gowell was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1967 amateur draft, on June 6, 1967. After winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
every game at Edward Little High School
Edward Little High School
Edward Little High School is a public high school in Auburn, Maine, United States that was first established as Lewiston Falls Academy in 1835. Philanthropist Edward Little donated and considerable money to the academy, which was named in his honor...
in Auburn, Maine
Auburn, Maine
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 23,055 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan...
, he was signed by the Yankees to a professional contract. He pitched in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for six years before making his major league debut, after winning 11 games in a row in double-A. Gowell was listed at 6' 2" in height, and 182 in weight.
Major league career
The New York Yankees called up Larry Gowell from their minor league organization to play as a September call-up. Gowell made his major league debut on September 21, 1972 against the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The game was held at County Stadium, with 4,185 people attending the game. Gowell was called to replace Rusty Torres
Rusty Torres
Rosando "Rusty" Torres Hernández is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine season in Major League Baseball for five different teams...
pitching and batting ninth in the bottom of the sixth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. He pitched two innings with one strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
. Felipe Alou was then called to pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Gowell in the top of the eighth inning. The Yankees lost the game 6-4. On October 4, Gowell hit a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
on a 3 balls-2 strike count, hitting a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
by pitcher Jim Lonborg
Jim Lonborg
James Reynold Lonborg is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies...
for his first and only major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and the last hit by a pitcher in a regular season American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
game before the start of the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule. The baseball that Gowell hit was accepted as a historical baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
, in Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, where it now resides.