Syracuse, NY. — Former Syracuse Chiefs pitcher Larry Gowell, who earned a more lasting niche with one swing of his bat than he ever did with his arm, has died at the age of 72.
Gowell pitched for the Chiefs in 1973-74, when the team was affiliated with the New York Yankees. He has a spot in the record books and trivia contests as the last American League pitcher to get a hit before the designated hitter was introduced in 1973.
Gowell made his first and only major league start at the end of the previous season, Oct. 4, 1972, against Milwaukee. He was opposed by Brewers pitcher Jim Lonborg. In the bottom of the third, Gowell went to the plate.
“I know when I was standing in the on-deck circle and they called my name I was super determined to give it all,” Gowell told yankeesgoyard.com. “I had to not make a fool out of myself and swing hard three times if the ball is around the plate.”
Gowell laced a 1-1 fastball down the third-base line for a double.
"“I was standing on second base and couldn’t believe what just happened,” Gowell said. “I looked up and Elston Howard was bringing me my jacket, no less! He says ‘nice swing kid!’”
The ball is now housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In 1973, the Yankees Ron Blomberg made history as the first DH to make his debut.
Gowell never pitched in the majors again despite two strong seasons in Syracuse. He was 10-8 with a 3.40 ERA for the Chiefs in 1973 and 8-6, 3.27 in 1974.
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Lindsay Kramer is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at LKramer@Syracuse.com.