Ted Bowsfield

With no Little League program in his hometown of Penticton, B.C., Ted Bowsfield played just six to eight games a year for much of his youth. As he reached his teens, the southpaw’s potential began to emerge. His big break came at a rotary tournament in Lethbridge, Alta., as a 17-year-old, when he pitched against a team of Cuban All-Stars and recorded 17 strikeouts to catch the eye of scouts in attendance.

Bowsfield would sign with the Boston Red Sox in 1954, and after minor league stints in San Jose, San Francisco, Oklahoma City and Minneapolis, the big league club called him up in July 1958. The Penticton native’s debut – a relief appearance – was overshadowed by the performance of Jim Bunning, who tossed a no-hitter for the opposing Tigers that day, but the talented lefty would deliver a number of solid performances of his own that season, including three wins against the archrival New York Yankees. His mastery of the Bronx Bombers would earn him the Bosox Rookie of the Year Award that year.

In June 1960, Bowsfield was dealt to the Cleveland Indians. He pitched for the Tribe for the remainder of the campaign before being selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the expansion draft. It was in The Golden State in 1961 that he would put together his finest season, compiling an 11-8 record and a 3.73 ERA. After the 1962 campaign, Bowsfield was dealt to the Kansas City A’s where he would play his final two big league seasons. When his playing days were over, Bowsfield worked in stadium operations with the Angels, before holding a similar position with the Kingdome, home of the Seattle Mariners.

Career Major League Statistics