Paul Owens
From BR Bullpen
Paul Francis Owens (The Pope)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lbs.
- School St. Bonaventure University
- Born February 7, 1924 in Salamanca, NY USA
- Died December 26, 2003 in Woodbury, NJ USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Paul Owens spent more than 40 years in the Philadelphia Phillies organization as a player, manager, scout, and General Manager.
Owens joined the army after high school, becoming sergeant of the engineering company and serving in Europe during World War II. After three years in the service, he enrolled in college, playing baseball and basketball, and earned a B.S. in physical education. A first baseman, he joined the Olean Oilers of the PONY League in 1951. That season, he hit .407 to win the league batting title and had a league-record 38 consecutive game hitting streak. After spending the next year with the Winston-Salem Cardinals in the St. Louis Cardinals chain, he returned to his hometown and became the city's director of youth activities.
Owens returned to pro ball as a player/manager with the Oilers in 1955. The next two seasons, he hit .368 and .407 to capture two more batting titles. The club had become a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in 1956, and in 1958 Owens moved within the Phillies organization to the Bakersfield Bears of the California League. He spent two years with the club as player/manager, although his playing time with Bakersfield was limited.
Owens became a Phillies scout in 1960 and was promoted to director of the club's farm system in 1965. In 1972, he became the team's General Manager, a post he held until 1983. He also managed the Phillies for two stints, the first in 1972 and the second in 1983 (when the Phillies reached the World Series) and 1984. After that, Owens held various other positions with the club until his death at age 79.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Division Titles: 1 (1983)
- NL Pennants: 1 (1983)
| Preceded by Frank Lucchesi | Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1972 | Succeeded by Danny Ozark |
| Preceded by John Quinn | Philadelphia Phillies General Manager 1972-1983 | Succeeded by Bill Giles |
| Preceded by Pat Corrales | Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1983-1984 | Succeeded by John Felske |
[edit] Year-by-Year Playing Record
| Year | Team | League | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Olean Oilers | PONY League | 111 | 459 | 129 | 187 | 32 | 9 | 17 | 101 | .407 | Coach |
| 1952 | Winston-Salem Cardinals | Carolina League | 136 | 535 | 98 | 181 | 34 | 7 | 11 | 105 | .338 | Coach |
| 1955 | Olean Oilers | PONY League | 126 | 457 | 105 | 177 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 86 | .387 | Player/Manager |
| 1956 | Olean Oilers | PONY League | 114 | 399 | 87 | 147 | 34 | 3 | 9 | 76 | .368 | Player/Manager |
| 1957 | Olean Oilers | New York-Pennsylvania League | 107 | 369 | 90 | 150 | 30 | 2 | 13 | 88 | .407 | Player/Manager |
| 1958 | Bakersfield Bears | California League | 31 | 98 | 11 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 14 | .255 | Player/Manager |
| 1959 | Bakersfield Bears | California League | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | Player/Manager |
