Art Fowler

John Arthur Fowler

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
• High School Spartanburg High School
• Debut April 17, 1954
• Final Game May 4, 1964
• Born July 3, 1922 in Converse, SC USA
• Died January 29, 2007 in Spartanburg, SC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The brother of Jesse Fowler, pitcher Art Fowler made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1954 at age 31. The brothers' major league debuts were separated by 29 years, easily a record (next were Gus Williams and Harry Williams, and John Paciorek and Jim Paciorek, both at 23 years apart). Fowler's main teammates were Ted Kluszewski, Gus Bell, Johnny Temple and, with the Los Angeles Angels, Albie Pearson.

Fowler later was a major league coach, primarily on the staff of his close friend, manager Billy Martin. In his final season, he was a player-coach with the Angels in 1964 as the oldest player in the American League, and became a member of the Minnesota Twins staff in 1969, when he first worked for Martin.

He had a superb time in the 1970 American Association. At ages 47 and 48, he went 9-5 with 15 saves and a 1.59 ERA as a player-coach for the Denver Bears. He tied Bob Stickels and Garland Shifflett for the league lead in saves. He had the best ERA of any hurler in the league with 50+ IP, beating out guys like Vida Blue, Jerry Reuss and Mike Marshall, who were old enough to be his kids. He also served as interim manager and once started a brawl by chasing an opposing hitter with a bat.

He then had stints with the Detroit Tigers from 1971 to 1973 and the Texas Rangers from 1973 to 1975. He became the New York Yankees pitching coach in 1977 and remained with the team through 1979. He followed Martin to the Oakland Athletics from 1980 to 1982. He returned to the Yankees as pitching coach in 1983 and again in 1988, both times with Martin as the team's manager.

Fowler was also the uncle of former big league coach Rick Adair.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1954 & 1955)
• Won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 (he did not play in the World Series)

Related Sites

• Art Fowler at the SABR Bio Project