Don Trower

Donald Trower
(Jeep)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
• High School Roosevelt High School (Fresno)

• Born December 10, 1919 in Hartman, CO USA
• Died January 7, 2012 in Visalia, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Don Trower was a long-time minor league infielder who played from 1939 to 1953, missing two full seasons to service in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Born in Colorado, he grew up in Fresno, CA and was a star athlete in high school, lettering in basketball, track and football in addition to baseball.

He spent six full seasons and part of another one with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, both before and after his time in the military. He was a regular with the Seals in both 1941 and 1942, playing 126 and 165 games respectively, but otherwise was a back-up. After his time in the PCL, he went to the Phoenix Senators of the Class C Arizona-Texas League, playing four seasons there, around one year with the Twin Falls Cowboys of the Pioneer League, which was also a Class C circuit at the time, in 1951. Overall, he hit .274 for his career in 1,369 games, but that was boosted by his years with Phoenix, in a strong hitting environment, when he hit over .300 in three of his four years, including a high of .398 in 39 games in his final season in 1953. He hit his share of doubles, and while only partial stolen base totals are available, appeared to have had good speed as well, as ascertained by a couple of seasons in double figures in stolen bases, and some good triple numbers as well. He was a player-manager at Phoenix in 1949 and 1950, leading the team to the league finals both years, at Twin Falls in 1951 and again with Phoenix in 1952.

On June 29, 1951, in his only season with Twin Falls, he was involved in a tragic freak accident before a game against the Ogden Reds. A practice throw hit 19-year-old catcher Dick Conway in the chest, and he died of his injury while being transported to hospital.

After baseball, he went in the automobile hardware industry, starting his own parts business in Fresno, CA, which he operated with his wife until his retirement in 1973. He later moved to Visalia, CA and died there in hospice care in 2012, at the age of 92.

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1949	Phoenix Senators	Arizona-Texas League	94-55	1st	none	Lost League Finals
1950	Phoenix Senators	Arizona-Texas League	82-68	2nd	none	Lost League Finals
1951	Twin Falls Cowboys	Pioneer League	71-68	4th	New York Yankees	Lost League Finals
1952	Phoenix Senators	Arizona-Texas League	78-62	3rd	none

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