Al Cowens
Born: 10/25/1951 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Died: 3/11/2002 in Downey, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1974-04-06 | Final Game: 1986-06-08
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 197 lbs
Full name: Alfred Edward Cowens
Biography
Al Cowens, born in 1951, was a prominent professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1974 to 1986. Known for his dynamic playing style and versatility in the outfield, Cowens played a total of 1,584 games during his time in Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he accumulated 1,494 hits, showcasing his ability to consistently make contact and contribute offensively. Cowens hit 108 home runs and drove in 717 runs, reflecting his power and run-producing capabilities. He finished his career with a respectable batting average of .27 and demonstrated notable speed on the bases, amassing 120 stolen bases.
Cowens' career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by increased offensive production and the emergence of new playing strategies. His contributions to the teams he played for positioned him as a key player in the league, and his performance helped to define his era. Al Cowens' legacy remains significant, remembered for his all-around skills and his impact on the game during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1584 | 5534 | 704 | 1494 | 276 | 68 | 108 | 717 | 120 | 389 | 659 | 0.270 | 0.319 | 0.403 | 0.722 | 1071.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | KCR | AL | 110 | 269 | 28 | 65 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 5 | 23 | 38 | 0.242 | -710.0 |
| 1975 | KCR | AL | 120 | 328 | 44 | 91 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 42 | 12 | 28 | 36 | 0.277 | 317.8 |
| 1976 | KCR | AL | 152 | 581 | 71 | 154 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 59 | 23 | 26 | 50 | 0.265 | -835.3 |
| 1977 | KCR | AL | 162 | 606 | 98 | 189 | 32 | 14 | 23 | 112 | 16 | 41 | 64 | 0.312 | 2484.4 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 132 | 485 | 63 | 133 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 63 | 14 | 31 | 54 | 0.274 | -104.1 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 136 | 516 | 69 | 152 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 73 | 10 | 40 | 44 | 0.295 | 337.0 |
| 1980 | LAA | AL | 34 | 119 | 11 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 12 | 21 | 0.227 | -295.3 |
| 1980 | DET | AL | 108 | 403 | 58 | 113 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 5 | 37 | 40 | 0.280 | -295.3 |
| 1981 | DET | AL | 85 | 253 | 27 | 66 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 22 | 36 | 0.261 | -160.2 |
| 1982 | SEA | AL | 146 | 560 | 72 | 151 | 39 | 8 | 20 | 78 | 11 | 46 | 81 | 0.270 | 1159.1 |
| 1983 | SEA | AL | 110 | 356 | 39 | 73 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 10 | 23 | 38 | 0.205 | -1327.7 |
| 1984 | SEA | AL | 139 | 524 | 60 | 145 | 34 | 2 | 15 | 78 | 9 | 27 | 83 | 0.277 | 382.0 |
| 1985 | SEA | AL | 122 | 452 | 59 | 120 | 32 | 5 | 14 | 69 | 0 | 30 | 56 | 0.265 | 383.6 |
| 1986 | SEA | AL | 28 | 82 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 0.183 | -550.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 55 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0.200 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | ALCS | KCA | 4 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.133 |
| 1977 | ALCS | KCA | 5 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0.263 |
| 1976 | ALCS | KCA | 5 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.190 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 7 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| OF | 1477 | 1350 | 2854 | 112 | 46 | 19 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | KCA | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | KCA | OF | 102 | 64 | 151 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1975 | KCA | OF | 113 | 83 | 214 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 1976 | KCA | OF | 148 | 145 | 329 | 13 | 5 | 3 |
| 1977 | KCA | OF | 159 | 150 | 307 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| 1978 | KCA | 3B | 5 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | KCA | OF | 127 | 123 | 275 | 10 | 3 | 5 |
| 1979 | KCA | OF | 134 | 132 | 288 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | CAL | OF | 30 | 30 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | DET | OF | 107 | 106 | 199 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1981 | DET | OF | 83 | 64 | 166 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | SEA | OF | 145 | 143 | 280 | 14 | 4 | 1 |
| 1983 | SEA | OF | 70 | 61 | 124 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | SEA | OF | 130 | 123 | 228 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | SEA | OF | 110 | 109 | 198 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
| 1986 | SEA | OF | 19 | 17 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 7 |
| Left Field | 34 |
| Center Field | 197 |
| Right Field | 1292 |
| Designated Hitter | 64 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1977 | Player of the Week | Week of 1977-09-23 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | SEA | AL | $360,000 |
| 1985 | SEA | AL | $400,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $760,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 217.0 | 392 | 4 |