Jacob Mowrey, Harry\'s father and the town\'s sheriff, frequently housed tramps in his jail cell overnight. Young Harry became particularly friendly with one tramp, prompting one of his brothers to nickname him "Mike the Hobo."\n', '

Mowrey was best known for his unorthodox fielding style—instead of catching a hard smash in his glove, he would knock the ball to the ground and then pick it up to throw out the runner. Defending against the bunt was a corner infielder\'s primary responsibility during the Deadball Era, and in 1910 Alfred H. Spink called Mowrey "the best fielder of bunts in either league." \n', '

Mowrey grew up playing baseball with school and town teams in the Chambersburg area. By the turn of the century he was a third baseman for Chambersburg Academy, playing well enough in 1902 to earn a shot with a team from Chester, Pennsylvania, just south of Philadelphia, in the independent Pennsylvania League. Mowrey returned to central Pennsylvania with Williamsport of the independent Tri-State League in 1904, the same year he married Nannie K. Hammel (the couple remained married until his death 43 years later). In 1905 Mowrey joined the ranks of affiliated baseball with Savannah of the South Atlantic League. His .285 batting average and flashy defensive play at third base so impressed the Cincinnati Reds that they purchased his contract.\n', '

Return to Mike Mowrey Autograph Profile