Al Cowens
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| Al Cowens | ||
|---|---|---|
| Outfielder | ||
| Born: October 25, 1951 | ||
| Died: March 11, 2002 (aged 50) | ||
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| April 6, 1974 for the Kansas City Royals |
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| Final game | ||
| June 8, 1986 for the Seattle Mariners |
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| Career statistics | ||
| AVG | .270 | |
| HR | 108 | |
| RBI | 717 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Alfred Edward (Al) Cowens, Jr. (October 25, 1951 – March 11, 2002) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1974 through 1986, Cowens played for the Kansas City Royals (1974-79), California Angels (1980), Detroit Tigers (1980-81) and Seattle Mariners (1982-86). He batted and threw right handed.
A native of Los Angeles, California, Cowens was a product of the Kansas City Royals farm system. He made his major league debut with the Royals in 1974 and played for them through 1979. His most productive season came in 1977, when he batted .312 with 23 home runs and 112 RBI, earned a Gold Glove, and finished second to Rod Carew in balloting for the American League MVP Award.
A notable feud occurred between Cowens and pitcher Ed Farmer (current White Sox radio announcer). On May 8, 1979 playing for the Royals, Cowens suffered a fractured jaw and missed 21 games during an 8-7 loss to Texas as a result of being hit by a pitch from Farmer. Farmer also hit Royal Frank White in the same game and White sustained a broken hand, missing 33 contests. The next season on June 20‚ 1980 while playing for the Tigers‚ Cowens hit an infield grounder as Farmer pitched at Comiskey Park. While Farmer watched his infielder make the play, Cowens ran to mound and attacked the pitcher from behind instead of running to first base. Cowens was suspended for 7 games and a warrant was issued for his arrest in Illinois‚ forcing him to skip the remainder of the Tigers-White Sox series in Chicago. Farmer agreed to drop the charges in exchange for a handshake‚ and the 2 players brought out the lineup cards before the game on Sep 1, 1980. However, future appearances for Cowens in Chicago were greeted with a "Coward Cowens" banner.
In a 13-year career, Cowens was a .270 hitter with 108 home runs and 717 RBI in 1584 games.
Cowens died in Downey, California, at the age of 50 from a heart attack.
