Larry Bowa: I Still Hate to Lose - Hardcover

Barry M Bloom; Larry Bowa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582617880 ISBN 13: 9781582617886

Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC, 2004

Synopsis

As current manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Larry Bowa has seen a lot in his 34-year career in baseball; so much that Bowa himself recently exclaimed, "I've been in the game for so long now, nothing really shocks me anymore." True, perhaps, but while Bowa may no longer be shocked by what he witnesses on and off the diamond, his passion for winning has remained as constant as his love for the game. Bowa's initiation into the big leagues began in Philly as a shortstop in 1970 and has spanned the life of three Phillies ballparks. During those early years with stints at organizations including the Mets and the Cubs, Bowa gained a reputation as a passionate loud mouth. Although Bowa himself admits his misdeeds were a result of nothing more than youthful inexperience ("Since I left San Diego I've never thrown chairs or the food spread again"), he still has a flame in his heart and a flair to win. "Looking back on it, I was wrong. That's inexperience. But I still come to the ballpark every day with that burning desire to win. I hate to lose and that will never change."

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Larry Bowa’s nearly 40-year passage from the sandlots of Sacramento, California, to the peak of his profession has been exhilarating and fiery. Bowa studied the game and through sweat and practice crafted himself into a major league player. The same passion he exhibited on the field dictated his actions inside the clubhouse. Relationships were scarred and patched up, and he had his share of rude awakenings. Throughout his career on the field and in the dugout, he has been driven to succeed. That dogged determination is why the Phillies brought back their favorite son to his adopted hometown to do his dream job: managing the team. He is now the one person on the field who links the old and new Phillies organization—from old Connie Mack Stadium to Veterans Stadium and now to Citizens Bank Park.

Bowa may ruffle some feathers among players and teammates, but he and management are on the same page: They want to return to the glory of that best era in Phillies history—1976 to 1981—when Bowa was the shortstop on a team that went to the playoffs just about every year and baseball enthusiasm among the tough Philadelphia sports fans was percolating. It culminated in 1980 when the Phillies won their only World Series championship.

I Still Hate to Lose studies Bowa’s entire excursion, from a pipsqueak rookie in North Philly to a World Series winner at the Vet, from a novice manager in San Diego to now perhaps his greatest challenge in a new ballpark—returning the Phillies to the pantheon of champions. "My expectations for 2004 are the same as they were in 2003," Bowa said. "I still hate to lose. I try to win every game. It doesn’t matter what kind of team I have. So that’s not changing. I try to go out and win every game."

About the Author:

Barry M. Bloom is a writer with nearly 30 years of experience in newspapers, magazines, wire services and the Internet and is currently the national reporter for MLBAM--Major League Baseball's official Web site. He has written three baseball books. He has covered the Dodgers, including most of The Infield's era, since 1976.

About this edition

• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1582617880
• ISBN 13: 9781582617886
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 221