Major League Baseball Player. He is best remembered for hitting a double, a prodigious shot high atop the Ebbets Field scoreboard in right field that shattered the Bulova clock, sending glass cascading down on Brooklyn right fielder Dixie Walker and inspiring novelist Bernard Malamud to write "The Natural" six years later. Actor Robert Redford, playing Roy Hobbs, hit a similar colossal blast in the movie version. Rowell, a left-handed batter, was an outfielder-second baseman for the Boston Bees/Braves (1939 to 1941, 1946 to 1947) and Philadelphia Phillies (1948). Rowell served four years in the military (1942 to 1945). He was involved in a triple play against Chicago on July 25, 1940. With Cubs pitcher Bill Lee at bat in the eighth inning, he tried to put down a sacrifice bunt. Instead, he popped up to first baseman Buddy Hassett, who fired to shortstop Eddie Miller at second to double up Gabby Hartnett. Miller then relayed to second baseman Rowell, who was covering first, to retire Dom Dallassandro for the third out. On March 6, 1948, he was traded with first baseman Ray Sanders and $40,000 to the Brooklyn Dodgers for second baseman Eddie Stanky, who became a catalyst for the Braves' march to the 1948 National League pennant. Rowell never played for the Dodgers as he was sold to Philadelphia on April 15, 1948. His six-year totals showed a .275 batting average, 95 doubles and 19 homers.
Major League Baseball Player. He is best remembered for hitting a double, a prodigious shot high atop the Ebbets Field scoreboard in right field that shattered the Bulova clock, sending glass cascading down on Brooklyn right fielder Dixie Walker and inspiring novelist Bernard Malamud to write "The Natural" six years later. Actor Robert Redford, playing Roy Hobbs, hit a similar colossal blast in the movie version. Rowell, a left-handed batter, was an outfielder-second baseman for the Boston Bees/Braves (1939 to 1941, 1946 to 1947) and Philadelphia Phillies (1948). Rowell served four years in the military (1942 to 1945). He was involved in a triple play against Chicago on July 25, 1940. With Cubs pitcher Bill Lee at bat in the eighth inning, he tried to put down a sacrifice bunt. Instead, he popped up to first baseman Buddy Hassett, who fired to shortstop Eddie Miller at second to double up Gabby Hartnett. Miller then relayed to second baseman Rowell, who was covering first, to retire Dom Dallassandro for the third out. On March 6, 1948, he was traded with first baseman Ray Sanders and $40,000 to the Brooklyn Dodgers for second baseman Eddie Stanky, who became a catalyst for the Braves' march to the 1948 National League pennant. Rowell never played for the Dodgers as he was sold to Philadelphia on April 15, 1948. His six-year totals showed a .275 batting average, 95 doubles and 19 homers.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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