Position: Pitcher

Jerome Gerrits

Pitcher

Boyd 1940-41; Ludington 1952; Boyd Bees 1953-54

Jerome “Chief” Gerrits had the misfortune of seeing his promising amateur baseball career halted by World War II, as league play and area baseball almost entirely disappeared during the war years of 1942 to 1945.  Nonetheless, the dominance exhibited by the venerable lefty over half a century ago still resonates strongly in the CRBL’s ledger.

Pitching for upstart Boyd in 1940, Chief’s first year in league play saw him lead the loop with 124.1 innings pitched, a 1.95 ERA, tie for the league lead with 10 wins, and set a since matched single season record of 4 shutouts.  For good measure, he struck out 162 batters in fueling the Boyd team to a 10 and 4 record and a birth in that year’s league championship series verse the Bloomer Pines.  Hurling 1-0 shutouts in the opener and the game 3 clincher, Gerrits almost single-handily staked Boyd to a league title in the team’s first year of circuit play.

For an encore, Chief topped that performance in 1941 when he won the pitcher’s triple crown (wins, ERA, and strikeouts) by going 10 and 0 in 88 frames with a 0.92 ERA, 137 strikeouts, and 3 shutouts.  Gerrits’ 10 wins accounted for each one of Boyd’s victories that year as they captured their second consecutive title in outright fashion with an unblemished 10-0 record in what would be their last year of league play.  During this sterling campaign, the Chief amassed a streak of 49 consecutive scoreless innings, a mark that still stands as a CRBL record.

Playing in area leagues after World War II, Jerome returned to the Chippewa Valley League with Ludington in 1952.  Logging a 4.27 ERA in 66 innings, Chief tied for the league lead with 7 wins while losing only one decision.  From the batter’s box, Gerrits rapped 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, and 12 RBI’s while scoring 14 runs and compiling a personal league best .360 batting average.  Chief’s clutch play helped lead Ludington to its only division title during the franchise’s seven seasons of league competition.

In 1953, he came back to Boyd to pitch for the Bees.  Re-emerging as an ace, Gerrits went 7 and 1 with a 3.96 ERA in 72.2 innings pitched as the Bees won their only division title and qualified for their lone WBA tournament in their four year league existence.

During a part-time role in 1954, Chief went 1 and 0 with a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings while leading the league in shutouts with 1.

Although his time in CRBL history was relatively short, it is apparent that Chief Gerrits was a relied upon, dominant difference maker.  Out of his five years in league play, Chief’s teams won a division title four times and staked a league title twice.

The success Gerrits helped create is on display in his #1 all-time ranking in career winning percentage.  Upon induction, he is also ranked 3rd all-time in ERA, 5th in shutouts, and 8th in strikeouts per nine innings.

Jim Prince

Pitcher

Cooks Valley Valleymen 1932-35; Bloomer City Team 1938-40; Tilden Tigers 1947,49-51

During his first four seasons of league play, Jim Prince was the leader or tied for the leading mark in wins, strikeouts, ERA, innings pitched, and shutouts.  In other words, Prince won the triple crown of pitching (wins, strikeouts, ERA) an unparalleled four seasons in a row.  The dust that has gathered on this accomplishment can be removed in recognizing that only one other pitcher in league history (Tom Dachel, 1977 and 1980) has copped this feat more than once.

Hurling for the Cooks Valley Valleymen from 1932 to 1935, Prince was a dominant workhorse, averaging over 10 wins, 125 strikeouts, and 111 innings pitched with an ERA of 2.50.

1935 marked the peak of his powers, as he went 14 and 3 in 145 innings while whiffing 163 batters and garnering a 2.30 ERA with 2 shutouts.

After a two year hiatus, Jim came back to pitch for the Bloomer City Team from 1938 to 1940.  He led the league in innings pitched with 87 in 1939 while going 6 and 6 with a 4.14 ERA.  He had his last stellar season in 1940 when he won 7 and lost 1 with an ERA of 2.66, 75 strikeouts, 71 innings pitched, and a league leading .875 winning percentage.

After another departure from league play, this time for six years, Prince came back in 1947 with the Tilden Tigers to twirl the league’s 5th no-hitter, a 9-inning 7-0 victory over the Huron Moundsmen.  Finished that year a solid 2 and 1 in 38 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.55 while tying for the league lead with 1 shutout.  Missing 1948, Jim finished his career as a part-time pitcher with the Tigers from 1949 to 1951.

Playing nearly all of his career before the advent of yearly All-Star games, All-CRBL recognition, and the WBA tournament, the glow of Jim Prince’s dominance is reenergized when looking at the marks he left on the CRBL’s record book.  Nearly 60 years after his last game of league play, Prince is still holding rank at 7th in wins, 10th in winning percentage, 10th in innings pitched, 10th in strikeouts, 5th in ERA, and is tied for 8th in shutouts.

Vic Johnson

Pitcher

Eau Claire Skelly Oilers 1938; Girard’s Hillbillies 1939; Leif’s Conoco Oilers 1953

Simply put, Vic Johnson is the only person in CRBL history to have played in the Major Leagues, doing so with the Boston Red Sox in 1944 and 1945 as well as the Cleveland Indians in 1946.

Playing in what at the time was called the Chippewa Valley Rural League, the left-handed Johnson’s time in league history was brief but memorable.  In 1938, he tied for the league lead in wins (7) and saves (1), while leading the league with a 1.000 percentage (7-0) for the league champion, 12 and 2 Eau Claire Skelly Oilers.  In 1939, he led the league with a 1.91 ERA (7 ER in 33 IP) and authored the third no-hitter in CRBL history, a 10-3 nine-inning job vs. Jim Falls while hurling for Girard’s Hillbillies.

After bouncing between area teams and leagues over the next few seasons, Johnson was signed by the Eau Claire Bears in 1942.  Pitching at a level roughly equivalent to single A, he went 18 and 7 in 1942, making the Northern League’s all-star team.  In 1943, he went a combined 17 and 12 between stops in Louisville, KY and Scranton, PA as he again made an all-star team, this time in the American Association.  His promising development prompted a call-up to the Red Sox of Boston in 1944, where he debuted against the Yankees on May 3rd in a 11-7 Red Sox loss.  He finished his rookie season with a 0-3 record in 7 appearances, 5 games started, and 27.1 innings pitched with 7 strikeouts and a 6.26 ERA.

In 1945, for a 71 and 83 Boston team that finished in 7th place, Vic emerged as one of the main components on the Red Sox pitching staff.  In 26 appearances and 9 starts, Johnson was 6 and 4 with 4 complete games, 2 saves, 1 shutout, 85 innings pitched, 21 strikeouts, and a 4.02 ERA.

The zenith of his pitching career occurred on August 29th, 1945 when he threw a 1-0 shutout  against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.  Incredibly, he threw 16 consecutive scoreless innings against a Yanks team that year which included Major League Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Joe Gordon, and Bill Dickey.

In 1946, Vic was unexpectedly traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for pitcher Jim Bagby and cash.  For the 6th place Tribe, he was 0-1 in 9 appearances, 1 start, and 13.2 innings pitched with 3 K’s and a 9.22 ERA.  He would be sent to the minors by mid-season, with his last game in the majors being on June 11th, 1946.  Johnson would spend over two more years successfully pitching in the minor leagues, in the process notching a no-hitter vs. future Brooklyn Dodger all-star Carl Erskine on May 28th, 1948.  Vic’s 13 and 7 mark from the mound that summer would count as the last tally on his professional resume.

A finesse pitcher who relied on locating his sinker and curveball, Vic Johnson’s final major league numbers are that of 42 appearances, 6 wins, 8 losses, 15 games started, 4 complete games, 2 saves, 126 innings pitched, 152 hits allowed, 60 walks, 31 strikeouts, 1 shutout, and an ERA of 5.07.  During his seven seasons as a minor leaguer, he won 68 games against 58 setbacks for a winning percentage of .540 while piling up 1,012 innings in 215 pitching appearance, 53 as a starter.

Post-professional baseball found Vic playing and managing on several area teams before returning to league play for one season in 1953 with Leif’s Conoco Oilers out of Eau Claire.  As their player/manager, Johnson threw just 2 innings while guiding the young group to an 8-3 record and assisting in the process of getting several Oiler players signed to professional contracts.

Jim Hoepner

Pitcher, Outfielder

Chippewa Prides 1975-77; Lafayette Lakers 1978-83; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1983-97

A right-handed pitcher, Jim Hoepner used pinpoint control, a sharp curveball, and an unrepentant competitive nature to capture a league record 109 wins during a long and very successful 23-year career.

Despite facing batters swinging metal bats in the hitter friendly parks of Lafayette and Chippewa’s Cardinal Field, Hoepner carved out eight seasons with an ERA of under 3.00.  His low water mark came in 1984, when he led the league with a stifling 1.13 in 55.2 innings.  Set the pace two other years with a 1.73 ERA in 1979 (73 innings) and a 1.98 mark in 1983 (72.1 innings).  In addition to leading the league in ERA three times, he was a strikeout champ twice with totals of 77 in 1985 and 60 in 1991.  Also posted sub-2.00 ERA’s in 1980 (1.94 in 55.2 innings) and 1981 (1.98 in 54.2 innings).  His total of five seasons with an ERA beneath 2.00 is an unmatched league record.

From 1978 to 1991, his seasonal averages were 7 wins, 70 innings thrown, 58 strikeouts, and an accumulative ERA of 2.88.  These totals would have made for a great season, let alone for a 14-year period of being a depended upon ace.

Holds the all-time record for shutouts with 19, leading the league or tying for the league lead in shutouts during seven seasons.  His career high of 4 shutouts in 1984 is tied for the single season mark.

In becoming one of only two pitchers to break the 1,000 inning barrier, Hoepner led the CRBL in this area in 1986 with 80 innings, 1987 with 69 frames, and in 1991 when he notched 78 innings.

On his way to a seemingly unbreakable mark of 109 league wins, Jim was the leader in that category during four years.  His career high of 10 wins against just 1 loss in 1987 tied for the league high.  Also tied for the lead with 6 wins in 1985.  Led the loop outright in 1984 with 8 victories and in 1991 with 7 wins.

Made a habit of helping himself at the plate, gathering 230 hits in 786 at-bats for a career batting average of .293.  Popped out 16 homeruns (high of 4 in 1986) and 51 doubles (high of 6 in 1985).  As a regular, Jim hit .300 or better twelve times, hitting a peak of .432 in 1984 (19 for 44).

A member of six division winners, five league champions, 18 WBA qualifiers, and five Final 8 teams, Hoepner was the unquestioned big game pitcher for the Prides, Lakers, and Lumberjacks.  In his six championship game appearances for the ‘Jacks, Jim was 4 and 1 in 42 innings with 14 strikeouts, 6 walks, 1 save, and an ERA of 4.50.  His complete game shutout in the Lumberjacks’ 12-0 victory over Hallie in the 1987 CRBL title game was an example of his determined pitching style.  In that performance, Jim scattered 10 hits, struck out 1, and did not walk an Eagle batter.

One of only three pitchers in CRBL history to throw two no-hitters, Hopener claimed the 17th and 18th in league play while pitching for Lafayette.  Notched his first as a Laker in a 9-inning, 12-0 decision in 1979 vs. the Jim Falls Sturgeons.  His second came against Tilden in a 1-0, 7-inning gem in 1980.  Combined with fellow Lumberjack Steve Nelson in 1986 to throw one of the four shared no-hitters in league history with a 6-inning, 12-0 win vs. the Cadott Red Sox.

Elected All-CRBL as a pitcher eight times (1979, 1981, 1983-1985, 1987, 1991, 1995) and Honorable Mention three times (1986,1988,1989).  Participated in five All-Star games (1980,1983,1987,1994,1995).

Phil Gannon

Pitcher, Utility

Lafayette Braves 1955-60; Lafayette Generals 1961-64; Lafayette Indians 1965-74

Known as “The Little Lefty”, Gannon effectively used a straight over the top, windmill style delivery to become one of the winningest southpaws in league history.

Playing his entire 20-year career in the baseball hot bed of Lafayette, the bespectacled Gannon was the go to workhorse in the “one game a week” era of league play.

The pinnacle of his pitching prowess came in 1961, when he paced the league with 118 innings pitched, 10 wins, 2 shutouts, and a 2.06 ERA.  1961 also saw him whiff 140 batters.  He had previously K’d over 100 in 1957 with 148 in 108 innings and in 1959 when his tally of 118 sit-downs in 98.1 IP led the league.  Gannon’s sub-100 total of 76 K’s in 1956 was his other league leading effort in that category.

From 1956 to 1963, he averaged 93 innings pitched, with his career high coming in that 1961 season.  Led the league in innings pitched three times, doing so in 1959 with 98.1 IP, 1961 with 118 IP, and in 1962 with 86.1 IP.  Also led the league with a 2.19 ERA in 1962.  Tied for the league lead in shutouts with 2 in 1959 and 1 in 1960.  Co-holder of the single game mark for innings pitched with 16, doing so against the Lake Hallie Lakers while striking out 15 in a 7-5 Braves’ win in 1959.

A regular in Lafayette line-ups, Phil molded a notable offensive career.  In total, he collected 251 hits, 41 doubles, 15 homeruns, 149 RBI’s, 167 runs scored, 160 walks, and 349 total bases in 952 at-bats.  His best offensive season also came in his standout 1961 campaign, when he hit .351 (13 for 37), with league high totals in stolen bases (10) and walks (13).  Tied for the league lead in triples with 2 in 1963.  Led the league with 21 RBI’s in 1971.

Gannon’s stalwart 1961 effort boosted the 10 and 1 Generals to an Eastern Division Crown, a WBA birth, and a spot in the Final 8.  In 1963, his 10 and 4 record accounted for each of the Generals’ decisions, as the crew from Lafayette duplicated their team achievements of 1961.

Provided a veteran presence and a solid stick for the upstart Indians when they won the East Division in 1966, as well as for the Indians’ WBA qualifiers of 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974.  Participated in nine consecutive All-Star games (1955 to 1963).  A memorable performer, Gannon played the first 17 years of his career prior to the annual tradition of All-CRBL awards.

Jeff Couey

1st Basemen, Pitcher

Cadott Red Sox 1972-73, 78-83

Often recalled as the “Babe Ruth” of CRBL play, Jeff Couey was an imposing left-handed masher and a shut-down right-handed closer during his eight seasons for the Cadott Red Sox.

His first two years in the league were of modest beginnings, as he hit a combined .287 (25 for 87) with 1 homerun and 18 RBI’s.  As a pitcher in 1972 he threw only 6 innings, but in 1973 he emerged as a #1, going 4 and 0 with a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings and striking out 52 of the opposition.

In Cadott‘s 5-4 championship game win vs. the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 1973, Couey hit a key two-run double and struck out 15 in a complete game effort that should have served as a warning shot for what was to come.

After spending several seasons with the Eau Claire Cavaliers, Couey returned in 1978 to wreak havoc on league competition.  At the plate, he won the triple crown (.483 AVG, 6 HR, 26 RBI) and from the hill he was the ERA champ with a mark of 1.43 (5 ER/31.2 IP) while winning 4 games and losing 1.  In 1979, Couey became the first person in league history to win two triple crowns — and still is the only batter to claim them back to back — leading hitters with a .420 AVG, 8 HR, and 31 RBI.  He went on to lead the league in homeruns and RBI’s the next three years — 8 HR’s and a since broken league record of 38 RBI’s in 1980, 5 HR’s and 26 RBI’s in 1981, and 6 HR’s (tied) and 37 RBI’s in 1982.  Out of this five season rampage, Couey set league marks for most seasons as a home run leader (5), RBI leader (5), and most consecutive seasons leading in each category (5).

Also led the league in hits with 29 in 1979, and runs scored twice with 24 in 1978 and 25 in 1979.  The respect he was shown as a hitter was evident in that he led the league in walks four times — 18 in 1978, 20 in 1979, 18 (tied) in 1981, and 16 in 1982.  Received over one walk per game in his career.  Reportedly, he was once intentionally walked with the bases loaded.

From the bullpen, Couey acted as the late-inning hammer for the championship Cadott Red Sox teams.  In addition to winning the ERA title in 1978, Couey did the same in 1982 at 1.02 (9 ER/26.2 IP).  From his closing role, Jeff tied for the league lead in saves with 2 in 1979 and 1 in 1980, before setting a yet to be broken league record of 7 lockdowns in 1981.

During that 1978 to 1982 run, the Couey fueled Cadott Red Sox went an accumulative 81 and 9 in CRBL play, won four South Division crowns, three league championships, qualified for the WBA each year, and made the Final 8 in 1981.  His legend began to grow when he clubbed 3 homers and knocked in 5 runs during Cadott’s 8-2 South Division playoff win against the Lafayette Lakers in 1979 .  In Cadott’s 8-5 title loss vs. Tilden that year, he was walked 4 times, twice intentionally.  He hit 2 bombs against the Lafayette Lakers in Cadott’s 5-3 Southern Divison playoff victory in 1980, propelling the Sox to their first of three consecutive championships.  In five total championship games, he went 6 for 12 with a double, 2 homeruns, 10 base on balls, and 5 RBI’s while earning a save, a win, and whiffing 31 men in 18 innings of work with an ERA of 1.16.

Elected All-CRBL from 1978 to 1982.  Participated in three All-Star games (1973, 1980, 1981).  A full-time player in six of his eight league seasons, a longer stay would have enabled Couey to make even more immovable marks on the record books.  As it stands, his 37 homeruns rank him tied for 10th all-time while his save total of 12 puts him alone in 5th place.  Whatever his numbers may be, Jeff Couey indisputably etched his name as one of the more memorable players to ever don a uniform in the CRBL.

Dave Hepfler

Pitcher, 3rd Baseman

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1967-74, 76-78, 89; Hallie Eagles 1979-80, 84, 86-88, 96

During a league career that touched four decades, Hepfler was known from start to finish as a powerful, hard-throwing righty who possessed an electric curveball to compliment a hissing fastball.

In 1968 — his second year in the league — Hepfler became the fourth pitcher in league history to win the pitching triple crown, leading the league with 9 wins, 144 strikeouts, and an ERA of 1.38 in a league high 85 innings pitched.  In the 1968 All-Star game, Hepfler’s Sturgeons whipped the League All-Stars 10-2, as he was named MVP for his 3-hit complete game performance in which he notched 14 K’s and retired 21 of the first 22 batters in the game.  At the plate, Dave was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s.

From 1967 to 1969, Hepfler went a combined 18 and 2 with 287 strikeouts in 165 innings and an ERA of 1.59.  Then from 1986 to 1989 — in a testament to his longevity — he went 9 and 0 with 102 strikeouts in 73.2 innings and an ERA of 2.08.  Within this qualitative span, the righty grabbed an ERA title in 1988 with a 1.57 mark and then led the league in saves with 3 in 1989.

In 1987, hurled the league’s 24th no-hitter, a five-inning 15-0 win vs. the Lafayette Lakers.  Led the league in saves with 3 in 1989.  Came out of retirement in 1996 to help the Hallie Eagles win the CRBL title game over Tilden, pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Possessed power at the plate as well, driving out 31 homeruns and driving in 168 runs during league career.  Attained season high of 5 homeruns twice (1979 and 1987) and 18 RBI’s twice (1971 and 1979).  Hit over .300 in seven of his 18 league seasons, with a high of .390 (16 for 41) in 1969.  Led the league with 20 RBI’s in 1971.

The dual threat that Hepfler provided helped his teams claim seven division titles, two league championships, qualify for 10 WBA tournaments, and survive to play three Final 8’s.

Elected All-CRBL four times (1972, 1979, 1988, 1989) and appeared in five All-Star games (1968, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1984).

Upon induction, his highest rankings as a pitcher include being 2nd all-time in strikeouts per 9 innings, tied for 10th in saves, 11th in total strikeouts, and tied for 13th in wins.  Offensively, his highest level is in homeruns where he is tied for 15th all-time.

Tom Dachel

Pitcher, Outfielder

Tilden Tigers 1969-80,82

During his 13-year career, Tom Dachel was without question the winningest and most dominant pitcher of his time.  A closer look at his career shows that he may have been the most dominant pitcher in CRBL history.

With the right-handed Dachel as their ace, the Tilden Tigers were able to win eight North Division championships, seven CRBL championships, qualify for the WBA in all but one (1969) of Dachel’s seasons, and make the Final 8 five times.  In 10 championship game appearances, Dachel sported a record 6 and 3 with 1 shutout, 67 strikeouts, 66.2 innings pitched, and an ERA of 2.70.  No pitcher in league history has more wins, strikeouts, or innings pitched in championship game play.

Led the league in wins seven times and tied for that lead another year, winning 8 or more games eight times, with a high of 13 in 1972.  Won the pitching triple crown in 1977 (9 wins, 94 K’s, 2.67 ERA) and again in 1980 (9 wins, 72 strikeouts, 1.34 ERA).  Led the league in ERA a total of three times (1975,1977,1980), crafting seven seasons of sub-3.00 ERA twirling, along with three seasons below the 2.00 ERA mark (1.35 in 1975, 1.85 in 1978, and 1.34 in 1980).

Had two seasons of over 100 strikeouts (109 in 1972 and 107 in 1974), leading the league in that category four times (1974,1977,1979,1980).  Led the league or tied for the lead in shutouts seven times, doing so six years in a row (1973-1978).  His career high of 4 shutouts in 1974 is tied for the single season league mark.

Exceeded 100 innings three times, with a peak of 125.1 in 1972.  Led the league in innings thrown five times (1974,1975, 1977, 1979,1980).

Dachel’s sterling pitching is that much more remarkable when one considers that a large percentage of it was accomplished facing metal wielding hitters within the offensively conducive confines of Tilden’s home park.

Tom had his highlights as a hitter.  Led the league in doubles with 7 in 1972 and 6 in 1982.  Also led the league in at-bats with 71 in in 1982.  Hit over .300 twice, doing so at .351 in 1972 (20 for 57) and .310 in 1982 (22 for 71).

With All-CRBL becoming an annual award in 1978, he was recognized as such in 1978 and 1980.  Appeared in two All-Star games (1972 and 1973).  Retired in 1982 as the all-time leader in ERA, wins, and shutouts.  Still has all-time rankings of 2nd in wins, 3rd in winning percentage, 3rd in innings pitched, 6th in strikeouts, and 2nd in shutouts.

Ron Cronin

Pitcher, 1st Basemen

Bloomer Pines 1954-55,58-59,61-64,66; Tilden Tigers 1960; Lafayette Indians 1965

Frequently described as “The Big Right-Hander”, Cronin used an unusual side-arm delivery to magnify a blazing fastball in forever making his mark as one of the premier strikeout pitchers in league history.

Racking up a remarkable 1,042 strikeouts in 764.1 innings, he was the “K King” when he retired, and his total still ranks 2nd all-time some 45 years after his last game.  Averaged over 12 strikeouts (12.27) per nine innings, the 3rd all-time highest mark.

Topped the 100 strikeout barrier in a season a league record six times, doing so in 1958 (144 K in 97.1 IP), 1960 (102 K in 96.1 IP), 1961 (143 K in 89.1 IP), 1962 (116 K in 85 IP), 1963 (153 K in 115.1 IP), and 1964 (108 K in 77.1 IP).  Led the Chippewa Valley League in punch-outs four of those years (1958, 1961-1963).  His streak of 5 seasons in a row (1960-1964) with over 100 strikeouts has never and may never matched.   Won 7 or more games six times, leading the league in that category three times (1960, 1962, 1963), with a high of 11 wins in 1963.  His career total of 59 wins still ranks 8th all-time.  Led the then Chippewa Valley League in innings pitched in 1960 and 1963.  Tied for the league lead in shutouts with 1 in 1955 and led the league with 2 in 1962.

Always a long-ball threat during his era, Cronin hit 2 homeruns in a season twice, leading the league with that total in 1963.  That same year, he also led the league with 13 RBI’s.

Played a major role on 4 division winners, helping to turn the tide for Bloomer (1958, 1961, 1963) and Tilden (1960).

Played in eight All-Star games (1955, 1958-1964).  Co-shares the single game league record for innings pitched with 16, doing so in a complete game, 4-1 loss to the Chippewa Falls Triangle Sports in 1958 during which he K’d 22 batters.

Larry Bowe

Pitcher, 1st Baseman

Lafayette Generals 1964; Lafayette Indians 1964-66, 68; Cadott Red Sox 1969-85

Rarely mentioned as one of the league’s great pitchers, the right-handed throwing Bowe burst on to the league scene with the Lafayette Indians during the 1960’s, later turning into a consistent workhorse and veteran presence for the powerhouse Cadott teams of the 1970’s and early 1980’s.

After a modest but winning start to his career, 1969 saw Bowe blow up for 176 strikeouts in 129 innings, despite a 7 and 8 record to go along with a 3.07 ERA.

Larry jumped to the Cadott Red Sox in 1970, where he went 7 and 3 with a 2.70 ERA, 97 strikeouts, and 80 innings pitched while tying for the league lead in saves with 1 and shutouts with 2.  For the Sox in 1971, he racked up 140 K’s in 111.2 innings pitched while going 8 and 5 with a 3.22 ERA.

From 1968 to 1977, Bowe’s yearly averages were that of 6 wins, 74.1 innings pitched, 85 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.94.  The righty had an ERA under 3.00 seven times, with a low of 2.25 (4 ER/16 IP) in 1978.  Led the league or tied for the lead in saves four times, with a high of 2 in 1978.

Was a member of eight division winners, five league championship teams, sixteen WBA qualifiers, and three Final 8 teams while on the Cadott Red Sox.  Also won a division title and played in the WBA for the 1966 Lafayette Indians.  Individual highlight in these team accomplishments came in 1975 when he threw a complete game six-hitter in Cadott’s 5-2 championship game win vs. Tilden.

Upon induction, ranked 4th all-time in wins with 73, 4th all-time in innings pitched with 881.1, 3rd all-time in strikeouts with 987, and tied for 6th all-time in shutouts with 7.  Twirled the league’s 15th no-hitter in 1976 vs. Tilden, a 8-0 victory that marked the first time Tilden had been no-hit in their long, storied existence.

A full time player for 15 of his 21 years in the league, Larry gradually built up the offensive career totals of 221 hits, 149 RBI’s, and 175 runs scored in 939 at-bats.

Appearing in five All-Star games (1968,1970-1973), Bowe was named co-MVP of the 1973 contest in which he started and pitched 3 scoreless innings for the South in their 6 to 4 loss at Bloomer.  He was elected All-CRBL in 1972 and 1974, the only years in which that honor was awarded prior to it becoming a yearly tradition in 1978.