John Lowenstein
John Lowenstein | ||
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Runs batted in | 441 | |
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John Lee Lowenstein (born January 27, 1947) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles.
Playing career
Lowenstein was born in Wolf Point, Montana. He attended Norte Vista High School in Riverside, California, and the University of California, Riverside where he was a three-year letterman with the Highlanders in 1966, 1967 and 1968.[1][2] As an All-American in his senior year,[3] he led the team in seven offensive categories including batting average (.393) and on-base and slugging percentages (.488 and .600 respectively). He was the first person in UC Riverside history to both receive an athletic scholarship and be selected in the MLB draft,[4][5] 401st overall in the 18th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1968.[6] He was inducted into the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.[4]
Although he never played in a major league game for them, Lowenstein was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays between the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He was traded by the Indians to the Blue Jays for designated hitter Rico Carty, and reacquired in the same off-season for utility infielder Héctor Torres.
Lowenstein is known for being part of a left-field platoon during the late 1970s and early 1980s with Gary Roenicke for the Baltimore Orioles.[7][8] He had been claimed off waivers by the Orioles from the Rangers on November 27, 1978.[9]
Lowenstein hit an extra inning walk-off home run for the
Eccentricities
While with the Indians in 1974, he started the John Lowenstein Apathy Club as opposed to having a fan club. He explained, "The people who start fan clubs do it for a publicity gimmick, and I don't care for it. I've turned down about a half dozen fan clubs already. They're a big hassle."[12]
Lowenstein was taken off the field on a stretcher in the seventh inning of a 4–3 Orioles win over the
Broadcaster
Lowenstein was an announcer for Oriole television broadcasts on
In 1986, Lowenstein served as a backup color commentator (behind
References
- ^ "John Lowenstein – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ Baseball: All-Time Roster – University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Baseball: All-Americans – University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Hall of Fame: John Lowenstein – University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Baseball: All-Time Draft Picks – University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ 1968 MLB June Draft Pick Transactions, Rounds 11–20, June 7 – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Cronin, Don (13 October 1983). "Lowenstein Gets His Turn". Mid Cities Daily News. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ a b Wulf, Steve (12 July 1982). "It's The Right Idea For Left". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ Baltimore Orioles 25th Anniversary: 1979 Information Guide (Lowenstein's profile on pages 96–97). Retrieved October 23, 2020
- Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ "1983 WS Gm1: Lowenstein robs Diaz of a home run" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Peterson, Harold. "People," Sports Illustrated, June 24, 1974. Retrieved October 23, 2020
- The Prescott Courier. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ Kent, Milton (22 January 1996). "Lowenstein: Maybe criticism of O's led to 'inexplicable' firing". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- John Lowenstein at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- John Lowenstein at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)