Sam Bowens

Bowens played four sports at Williston High School in Wilmington. He received a $5,000 signing bonus from the Orioles and started his minor league baseball career with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League and the Leesburg Orioles of the Florida State League in 1960.\n', '

In 1963, Bowens appeared in 15 games, batting .333 with one home run and nine runs batted in. In his first full year, 1964, Bowens batted .263, 22 with home runs, 71 RBI, 58 runs, 132 hits, 25 doubles, in 139 games. His playing time declined however, because of injuries, an alcohol addiction, and the blossoming of 1965 American League Rookie of the Year Curt Blefary. In 1965 he appeared in 84 games, batting only .163 with seven home runs and 20 runs batted in. He only hit over .200 once more in his career, in 1966 when he hit .210 in 89 games while he was hit by a pitch five times, finishing tenth in the lea…