John Lowenstein

American baseball player (born 1947)

Baseball player

John Lowenstein

Outfielder
Born: (1947-01-27) January 27, 1947 (age 78)
Wolf Point, Montana, U.S.

Batted: Left

Threw: Right

MLB debut
September 2, 1970, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
May 4, 1985, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Batting average| .253
Home runs| 116
Runs batted in| 441
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams

* Cleveland Indians (1970–1977)
* Texas Rangers (1978)
* Baltimore Orioles (1979–1985)

Career highlights and awards

* World Series champion (1983)
* Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame

John Lee Lowenstein (born January 27, 1947) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles.

## Playing career

[edit]

Lowenstein was born in Wolf Point, Montana. He attended Norte Vista High School in Riverside, California, and the University of California, Riverside where he was a three-year letterman with the Highlanders in 1966, 1967 and 1968.[1][2] As an All-American in his senior year,[3] he led the team in seven offensive categories including batting average (.393) and on-base and slugging percentages (.488 and .600 respectively). He was the first person in UC Riverside history to both receive an athletic scholarship and be selected in the MLB draft,[4][5] 401st overall in the 18th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1968.[6] He was inducted into the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.[4]

Although he never played in a major league game for them, Lowenstein was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays between the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He was traded by the Indians to the Blue Jays for designated hitter Rico Carty, and reacquired in the same off-season for utility infielder Héctor Torres.

Lowenstein is known for being part of a left-field platoon during the late 1970s and early 1980s with Gary Roenicke for the Baltimore Orioles.[7][8] He had been claimed off waivers by the Orioles from the Rangers on November 27, 1978.[9]

Lowenstein hit an extra inning walk-off home run for the Baltimore Orioles to win Game 1 of the 1979 American League playoffs against the California Angels.[10] He also made a spectacular, off-the-wall catch to rob the Phillies' Bo Diaz of a home-run in Game One of the 1983 World Series[11] and hit a home run for the Orioles in Game 2.[7] Lowenstein and the Orioles won the World Series that year, four games to one.

### Eccentricities

[edit]

While with the Indians in 1974, he started the John Lowenstein Apathy Club as opposed to having a fan club. He explained, "The people who start fan clubs do it for a publicity gimmick, and I don't care for it. I've turned down about a half dozen fan clubs already. They're a big hassle."[12]

Lowenstein was taken off the field on a stretcher in the seventh inning of a 4-3 Orioles win over the Oakland Athletics at Memorial Stadium on June 19, 1980. While sliding into second base in an attempt to extend a game-tying single, he was accidentally hit on the back of his head by a ball thrown by first baseman Jeff Newman who was the cut-off man on the play. As he reached the dugout, the seemingly unconscious Lowenstein abruptly sat up and pumped his fists in a victory salute to the crowd.[13] He explained, "It was simply an opportunity I could not pass up."[8]

## Broadcaster

[edit]

Lowenstein was an announcer for Oriole television broadcasts on Home Team Sports for eleven seasons, working as an analyst with Mel Proctor. After he was told before the 1996 season he would not be retained, Lowenstein speculated the Orioles put pressure on Home Team Sports to remove him from the booth.[14]

In 1986, Lowenstein served as a backup color commentator (behind Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek) on NBC's Game of the Week broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Ted Robinson; Lowenstein and Robinson called the May 17 game between Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "John Lowenstein – Society for American Baseball Research".
2. ^ Baseball: All-Time Roster - University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
3. ^ Baseball: All-Americans - University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
4. ^ a b Hall of Fame: John Lowenstein - University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
5. ^ Baseball: All-Time Draft Picks - University of California, Riverside Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
6. ^ 1968 MLB June Draft Pick Transactions, Rounds 11-20, June 7 - Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
7. ^ a b Cronin, Don (October 13, 1983). "Lowenstein Gets His Turn". Mid Cities Daily News. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
8. ^ a b Wulf, Steve (July 12, 1982). "It's The Right Idea For Left". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
9. ^ Baltimore Orioles 25th Anniversary: 1979 Information Guide (Lowenstein's profile on pages 96-97). Retrieved October 23, 2020
10. ^ Loomis, Tom (October 3, 1979). "Lowenstein Latest Hero For Baltimore ". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
11. ^ "1983 WS Gm1: Lowenstein robs Diaz of a home run". October 12, 2014 - via www.youtube.com.
12. ^ Peterson, Harold. "People," Sports Illustrated, June 24, 1974. Retrieved October 23, 2020
13. ^ Nissenson, Herschel (June 20, 1980). "Lowenstein Uses Head To Ignite Victory ". The Prescott Courier. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
14. ^ Kent, Milton (January 22, 1996). "Lowenstein: Maybe criticism of O's led to 'inexplicable' firing". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 2, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

*   * Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet
* John Lowenstein at the SABR Baseball Biography Project

* v
* t
* e

Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Series champions

* 1 Al Bumbry
* 8 Cal Ripken Jr. (AL MVP)
* 10 Todd Cruz
* 12 Lenn Sakata
* 15 Dan Ford
* 16 Scott McGregor
* 17 Joe Nolan
* 22 Jim Palmer
* 23 Tippy Martinez
* 24 Rick Dempsey (World Series MVP)
* 25 Rich Dauer
* 27 Benny Ayala
* 28 Jim Dwyer
* 29 Ken Singleton
* 30 Dennis Martínez
* 33 Eddie Murray
* 34 Storm Davis
* 35 Gary Roenicke
* 37 John Shelby
* 38 John Lowenstein
* 39 Tito Landrum
* 46 Mike Flanagan
* 49 Tim Stoddard
* 52 Mike Boddicker (ALCS MVP)
* 53 Sammy Stewart

Manager
26 Joe Altobelli

Coaches
31 Ray Miller
40 Jimmy Williams
44 Elrod Hendricks
47 Cal Ripken Sr.
54 Ralph Rowe

Regular season
American League Championship Series

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame

* Roberto Alomar
* Brady Anderson
* Luis Aparicio
* Harold Baines
* George Bamberger
* Steve Barber
* Hank Bauer
* Mark Belanger
* Paul Blair
* Mike Boddicker
* Mike Bordick
* Hal Brown
* Don Buford
* Al Bumbry
* Terry Crowley
* Mike Cuellar
* Rich Dauer
* Doug DeCinces
* Rick Dempsey
* Mike Devereaux
* Mike Flanagan
* Jim Gentile
* Bobby Grich
* Dick Hall
* J.J. Hardy
* Elrod Hendricks
* Chris Hoiles
* Billy Hunter
* Davey Johnson
* John Lowenstein
* Nick Markakis
* Dennis Martínez
* Tippy Martinez
* Lee May
* Scott McGregor
* Dave McNally
* Ray Miller
* Stu Miller
* Melvin Mora
* Eddie Murray
* Mike Mussina
* Johnny Oates
* Gregg Olson
* Jim Palmer
* Milt Pappas
* Boog Powell
* Paul Richards
* Cal Ripken Jr.
* Cal Ripken Sr.
* Brian Roberts
* Brooks Robinson
* Frank Robinson
* Gary Roenicke
* Ken Singleton
* B. J. Surhoff
* Gus Triandos
* Eddie Watt
* Earl Weaver
* Hoyt Wilhelm
* Gene Woodling

Herb Armstrong Award

* Joe Angel
* Richie Bancells
* Rex Barney
* Dick Bowie
* Rob Brown
* Frank Cashen
* Harry Dalton
* Jack Dunn III
* Jerold Hoffberger
* Phil Itzoe
* Lenny Johnston
* Lee MacPhail
* Fred Manfra
* Bill O'Donnell
* Hank Peters
* Don Pries
* Ralph Salvon
* Chuck Thompson
* Ernie Tyler
* Fred Uhlman Sr.
* Julie Wagner
* Eddie Weidner

"Wild Bill" Hagy Award
* Wild Bill Hagy
* Mo Gaba

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball on NBC

Game coverage|

* Major League Baseball on NBC Radio (1927–1938; 1957–1975)
* Major League Baseball Game of the Week (1957–1964; 1966–1989)
* Sunday Afternoon Baseball (1959–1964)
* Monday Night Baseball (1967–1975)
* Baseball Night in America (1994–1995)
* MLB Sunday Leadoff (2022–2023)

| Miscellaneous
programs|

* Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
* Major League Baseball: An Inside Look (1979–1989) (pregame show)
* USA Network Thursday Night Baseball (1979–1983)

|

Related
articles|

* History
* The Baseball Network
* World Series television ratings
* Television contracts
* 1940s
* 1950s
* 1960s
* 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s

| NBC's owned
and operated
TV stations|

* W2XBS (later WNBT) (New York Yankees, 1939–1945)
* WCAU 10 (Philadelphia Phillies, 2014–present)
* KCST 39 (later KNSD) (San Diego Padres, 1971–1972; 1984–1986)
* KNTV 11 (San Francisco Giants, 2008–present)

|

NBC Sports|

* Bay Area (San Francisco Giants)
* California (Athletics)
* Chicago (Chicago Cubs [2004–2019] and White Sox [2004–2024])
* Philadelphia (Philadelphia Phillies)
* New York (New York Mets)

Commentators|

* The Baseball Network
* All-Star Game
* ALCS
* ALDS
* NLCS
* NLDS
* World Series
* Game of the Week
* Prime time

Lore|

| Regular season
games|

* #715 (1974)
* "The Sandberg Game" (1984)

|

Tie-breaker games|

* 1951 National League tie-breaker series (Games 2–3)
* 1962 National League tie-breaker series

LCS games|

* "Go crazy folks!" (1985)
* Jeffrey Maier (1996)
* "Grand Slam Single" (1999)

World Series
games|

* Subway Series
* "The Catch" (1954)
* Don Larsen's perfect game (1956)
* Bill Mazeroski's home run (1960)
* "Shoe polish incident" (1969)
* "Fisk Waves it Fair" (1975)
* Michael Sergio (1986)
* "It gets through Buckner!" (1986)
* Kirk Gibson's home run (1988)
* All-Century Team (1999)

World Series|

* 1947 (Games 1 and 5)
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1995 (Games 2, 3, and 6)
* 1997
* 1999

AL Championship Series|

* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1983
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989
* 1995 (Games 3–6)
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000

NL Championship Series|

* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1983
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989
* 1995 (Games 3–4)
* 1997
* 1999

AL Division Series|

* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000

NL Division Series|

* 1981
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

All-Star Game|

* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959: First-Second
* 1960: First-Second
* 1961: First-Second
* 1962: First-Second
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1983
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000

Seasons|

| Pre-Game of the Week|

* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956

|

Game of the Week era|

* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965 (All-Star Game and World Series only)
* 1966 (exclusive coverage begins)
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

The Baseball Network era|

* 1994
* 1995

No regular season
coverage|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000

MLB Sunday Leadoff era|

* 2022
* 2023

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template