Paul Owens

Paul Francis Owens (The Pope)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lbs.
• School St. Bonaventure University, Rider College
• Born February 7, 1924 in Salamanca, NY USA
• Died December 26, 2003 in Woodbury, NJ USA

BR minors page

BR Manager page

Biographical Information

Paul Owens spent more than 40 years in the Philadelphia Phillies organization as a player, manager, scout, and General Manager.

Owens joined the army after one year at Rider College, becoming sergeant of the engineering company and serving in Europe during World War II. After three years in the service he returned to college, this time enrolling at St. Bonaventure University, where he played baseball & basketball and earned a B.S. in physical education. A first baseman, he joined the Olean Oilers of the PONY League in 1951. That season, he hit .407 to win the league batting title and had a league-record 38 consecutive game hitting streak. After spending the next year with the Winston-Salem Cardinals in the St. Louis Cardinals chain, he returned to his hometown and became the city's director of youth activities.

Owens returned to pro ball as a player/manager with the Oilers in 1955. The next two seasons, he hit .368 and .407 to capture two more batting titles. The club had become a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in 1956, and in 1958 Owens moved within the Phillies organization to the Bakersfield Bears of the California League. He spent two years with the club as player/manager, although his playing time with Bakersfield was limited.

Owens became a Phillies scout in 1960 and was promoted to director of the club's farm system in 1965. In 1972, he became the team's General Manager, a post he held until 1983. He also managed the Phillies for two stints, the first in 1972 and the second in 1983 (when the Phillies reached the World Series) and 1984. After that, Owens held various other positions with the club until his death at age 79.

Notable Achievements

• Division Titles: 1 (1983)
• NL Pennants: 1 (1983)

Preceded by Frank Lucchesi

Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1972

Succeeded by Danny Ozark

Preceded by John Quinn

Philadelphia Phillies General Manager 1972-1983

Succeeded by Bill Giles

Preceded by Pat Corrales

Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1983-1984

Succeeded by John Felske

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1955	Olean Oilers	PONY League	46-80	8th	none
1956	Olean Oilers	PONY League	65-58	3rd	Philadelphia Phillies	Lost League Finals
1957	Olean Oilers	New York-Penn League	52-65	5th	Philadelphia Phillies
1958	Bakersfield Bears	California League	84-55	2nd	Philadelphia Phillies	Lost in 1st round
1959	Bakersfield Bears	California League	70-71	4th	Philadelphia Phillies	Lost League Finals
1972	Philadelphia Phillies	National League	33-47	6th	Philadelphia Phillies		replaced Frank Lucchesi (26-50) on July 10
1983	Philadelphia Phillies	National League	47-30	1st	Philadelphia Phillies	Lost World Series	replaced Pat Corrales (43-42) on July 18
1984	Philadelphia Phillies	National League	81-81	4th	Philadelphia Phillies