Lawrence Robert Bowa was born in Sacramento, California. His father, Paul, played and managed in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system.

Larry was a premier shortstop, manager, and coach who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets. Larry was voted onto five All-Star teams and earned two Gold Gloves ('72, '78).

Bowa was named manager of the Phillies on November 1, 2000. Taking over a team that had gone 65-97 in 2000, He led the club to a surprising 86-76 mark in 2001, two games behind the National League East Champion Atlanta Braves. Bowa was honored as National League Manager of the Year and also received the Sporting News NL Manager of the Year Award that year.

"... A helluva coach. A great field manager. God, what a dickhead. I thought he was the biggest asshole in the United States of America. Of course, there are still days when I think that, but only some days. Not every day like before. Oh yeah, one more thing. The best thing that ever happened to me in my career was him becoming my manager." - John Kruk in "I Ain't An Athlete Lady."

Larry went on to manage the San Diego Padres and he finished his managing career with a winning record of 337-308.

Bowa coached third for Yankees in 2006 and 2007 and served in a similar capacity with the Dodgers from 2008 to 2010. From 2011 to 2013 Bowa worked as an in-studio analyst for ESPN and MLB Network, as well as co-hosting a talk show on Sirius XM radio. In 2014 Bowa returned to the Phillies as bench coach for Ryne Sandberg and continued in that position for Pete Mackanin from 2015 to 2017. Following the 2017 season, the Phillies promoted Bowa to Senior Advisor to General Manager Matt Klentak.

The 2018 season was Bowa’s 53rd associated with Major League Baseball and his 34th with the Phillies’ organization. He has been a career “Baseball man.” Bowa was inducted onto the Phillies’ Wall of Fame in 1991, as well as being named the shortstop on the Phillies’ Centennial team in 1983 and the all-Veterans Stadium team in 2003.

In his Letters from Home Plate response, Larry lists Phil Rizzuto, Pee Wee Reese and other players of small stature as his favorite players growing up, Bob Gibson as the toughest pitcher he ever faced, and Wrigley Field as his favorite park to play in... Greg Luzinski, "the Bull", was his favorite teammate.

"Y'know everybody says I have good hands and everything, but the thing that makes a good shortstop is the footwork involved. If you have good footwork, if you can get to the ball, you can set up and get your body out of the way so you can make the throw. I think that's the most important thing." - Larry Bowa in "Baseball and the Meaning of Life" (Josh Leventhal, 09/25/2005, Voyageur Press, Page 83).

(excerpted from SABR, Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)