This Date in Phillies History: November 1

The first day of November has been a fairly popular date for naming new managers in the Phillies organization, and the very roots of the Phillies go back to November 1. Plus, we have some birthdays to celebrated on This Date in Phillies History.

Phillies events on November 1

Philadelphia Ball Club Limited, the organization that became the Philadelphia Phillies, was incorporated on November 1, 1882. The group led by Al Reach and John Rogers organized the franchise that would join the National League the following year.
Danny Ozark was named Philadelphia Phillies manager on November 1, 1972; Ozark would manage the club through the 1979 season and lead the Phillies to three National League East titles in the 1970s.
Larry Bowa was named Phillies manager on November 1, 2000; Bowa succeeded Terry Francona and managed the club for the 2001–2003 seasons.
Placido Polanco was announced as a Gold Glove winner on November 1, 2011, becoming just the second player in Major League history to win a Gold Glove at two different positions. He had previously won at second base and won in 2011 at third base while with the Phillies.

Phillies players, managers, executives, and broadcasters born on November 1

Fernando Valenzuela (1960) — Left-handed pitcher, who spent part of his long major-league career with the Phillies; Valenzuela was a high-profile, award-winning starter and made seven starts and one relief appearance with the Phillies in 1994 after signing with the team as a free agent.
Gary Redus (1956) – Outfielder who played for multiple big-league clubs including one season with the Phillies. Redus was a speed-and-power player who played for the Phillies in 1986 with 11 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a .247 batting average.
Bob Wells (1966) – A Right-handed swingman best known for his time with Seattle and Minnesoty, Wells broke into the majors with the Phillies in 1994. After six games in relief with the Phillies, who had originally signed Wells as an amateur free agent, he was placed on waivers and claimed by Seattle.

A DEEPER DIVE… Larry Bowa

Larry Bowa’s name is woven into the Phillies’ fabric. He arrived in Philadelphia as a scrappy, energetic shortstop and over the next five decades built one of the franchise’s deepest and most enduring relationships. Bowa played with the Phillies from 1970 through 1981 and after his playing career he returned repeatedly as a coach, manager, and adviser. His imprint is both on the field and in the clubhouse: a competitor who expected the same edge from everyone around him.

As a player Bowa was the prototype of a defensive shortstop. He won two Gold Glove Awards and led the National League in fielding percentage six times. What he brought was range, glove work, and a relentless motor. He was a five-time All-Star and stole 20 or more bases nine times, including a career-high 39 stolen bases in 1974. Those tools carried him through 12 seasons in a Phillies uniform and helped anchor the infield during an era when the franchise was moving from losing tradition to contender.

Bowa’s playing highlight with Philadelphia came in 1980 when he was part of the Phillies’ first World Series championship team. That club remains a touchstone in franchise history and Bowa’s role as a steady veteran and defensive leader gave the team balance. Fans remember him for hustle plays, animated leadership, and a kind of old-school intensity that fit perfectly with the personality of Veterans Stadium and the era.

When his playing days ended Bowa’s connection to Philadelphia didn’t. He transitioned into coaching and returned to the Phillies organization in a staff role in the late 1980s. During that stretch he served on the coaching staff for several seasons, helping mentor young position players and sharing practical, day-to-day insights about playing shortstop at the major-league level. His reputation as a teacher grew because he combined technical acumen with an insistence on effort and fundamentals.

Bowa’s next major chapter in Philadelphia came as manager. He was hired to manage the Phillies for the 2001 season and immediately delivered one of the franchise’s more surprising turns. The 2001 Phillies won 86 games, overachieved expectations, and Bowa was named National League Manager of the Year. That award highlighted his ability to get the best out of his roster and to manage clubhouse personalities. He emphasized fundamentals, attention to defense, and a competitive mindset. Those traits resonated with players and fans alike.

The early 2000s were turbulent years for the Phillies and Bowa’s managerial tenure had its ups and downs. He presided over teams that showed flashes of promise and also entered rebuilding stretches. Bowa’s style sometimes clashed with front office direction, but his leadership left a clear mark on the organization. He managed through 2004 and compiled a body of work that included the 2001 high point and several seasons where he helped young players gain experience and grow.

After leaving the manager’s office Bowa continued to find roles throughout baseball as a coach, instructor, and front-office voice. He coached for other clubs and worked as a baseball lifer who could be called on to stabilize infields, instruct prospects, and inject energy into a staff. That wide range of league experience only increased his value when the Phillies sought seasoned voices around their major-league and minor-league players.

Bowa’s relationship with the Phillies developed beyond single stints. He returned to Philadelphia in later years in advisory and coaching capacities. He has served as a special instructor during spring training and as a senior consultant in player development. He became one of those alumni figures who is part teacher, part ambassador and part cultural keeper. When younger players join the organization they hear Bowa stories and receive practical instruction from someone who has lived almost every facet of the game.

Today, even as his roles have become less day-to-day and more advisory, Bowa remains connected to the franchise. He is respected inside the organization for institutional memory and for the blunt, honest feedback he gives players. He shows up at spring camps, participates in alumni events, and is called on when the club wants a seasoned perspective on the shortstop position, defensive alignment, or clubhouse dynamics. Few former players have been as continuously associated with one franchise through playing, coaching, managing, and advisory work as Larry Bowa has been with the Phillies.

His legacy in Philadelphia is simple and durable. Bowa is remembered first as a player who set defensive standards. He is remembered next as a manager who could wring wins out of imperfect rosters and who earned recognition with an NL Manager of the Year award. And he is remembered now as part of the franchise’s living history, someone who helps link today’s players to the club’s past values, its style, and its expectations. For fans who care about grit, hustle, and championship memory, Larry Bowa remains a central figure in the Phillies story.

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