Dwight Lowry
Encyclopedia
Dwight Lowry, born Dwight Lowery (October 23, 1957 - July 10, 1997) was a catcher in Major League Baseball
who played with the Detroit Tigers
in 1984, 1986, and 1987, and for the Minnesota Twins
in 1988.
, Lowry attended the University of North Carolina
before playing professional baseball. Lowry lettered with the Tar Heels in 1977, 1979, and 1980. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round of the 1980 amateur draft, but did not make his major league debut until he was 26 years old.
Lowry debuted with the 1984 Detroit Tigers
team that began the season 35-5, won 104 games and beat the San Diego Padres
in the World Series
. As a backup for All-Star catcher Lance Parrish
, Lowry appeared in 32 games for the 1984 Tigers
, scoring eight runs, hitting two home runs, and driving in seven runs. On May 20, 1984, Lowry hit his first major league home run in a 4-3 Detroit win over the A's. Lowry's blast was the difference in the win that extended the Tigers' record-setting start to 32-5. In his diary of the 1984 season, Sparky Anderson
wrote the following about Lowry's home run: "Dwight Lowry is a rookie catcher with us. He hit his first major league home run, so you know he'll never forget May 20." Sparky Anderson
, "Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season
," p. 66. On September 29, 1984, Lowry hit his second home run in an 11-3 win over the Yankees. The game was the team's record-setting 104th victory of the season.
Lowry did not play in the major leagues in 1985 but returned to the Tigers in 1986, batting .307 in 56 games. His .307 average in 1986 was the second highest on the Tigers among players with at least 150 at bats. Lowry appeared in 13 more games in 1987, when the team again won AL Eastern division. He was released by the Tigers on October 16, 1987 and signed as a free agent by the Twins on October 23, 1987. Lowry had only eight at bats for the Twins and played his last major league game on April 23, 1988. On April 27, 1988, the Twins optioned Lowry to Portland.
After his playing career ended, Lowry became a manager in the Tigers' minor league system. Lowry managed the Fayetteville Generals
for three seasons from 1994-1996. In 1995, he led them to a first place finish (86-55) in the South Atlantic League
. In 1996, the team's record dropped to 76-63, though they won the second-half South Atlantic League Division Title. For his work with the Generals, Lowry was named the Detroit Tigers Player Development Man of the Year.
In , Lowry was assigned to manage the Jamestown Jammers
of the Short Season-A New York-Penn League. On July 10, just three weeks into the NY-PL season, he died of a heart attack at age 39 after collapsing outside his home in Jamestown, New York
. He died suddenly within an hour of a victory at Russell Diethrick Park
.
Lowry was survived by his wife, Pamela D. Lowry, two daughters (Sesilie Lowry and Amanda Lowry) and a son (Zachary Lowry).
In 1997, the Detroit Tigers renamed the Player Development Man of the Year Award to the Dwight Lowry Award in his honor. In 1988, he was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1984, 1986, and 1987, and for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1988.
Biography
Born in Lumberton, North CarolinaLumberton, North Carolina
Lumberton is a city in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 20,795 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Robeson County. Lumberton, located in southern North Carolina's Inner Banks region, is located on the Lumber River...
, Lowry attended the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
before playing professional baseball. Lowry lettered with the Tar Heels in 1977, 1979, and 1980. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round of the 1980 amateur draft, but did not make his major league debut until he was 26 years old.
Lowry debuted with the 1984 Detroit Tigers
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
team that began the season 35-5, won 104 games and beat the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
. As a backup for All-Star catcher Lance Parrish
Lance Parrish
Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
, Lowry appeared in 32 games for the 1984 Tigers
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
, scoring eight runs, hitting two home runs, and driving in seven runs. On May 20, 1984, Lowry hit his first major league home run in a 4-3 Detroit win over the A's. Lowry's blast was the difference in the win that extended the Tigers' record-setting start to 32-5. In his diary of the 1984 season, Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
wrote the following about Lowry's home run: "Dwight Lowry is a rookie catcher with us. He hit his first major league home run, so you know he'll never forget May 20." Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
, "Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season
Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season
Bless You Boys: Diary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 Season is a book written in 1984 by Sparky Anderson with Dan Ewald. The phrase "Bless You Boys" was the catchphrase adopted by Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman for the 1984 Detroit Tigers team that started the year with a 35-5 start.-The book:The...
," p. 66. On September 29, 1984, Lowry hit his second home run in an 11-3 win over the Yankees. The game was the team's record-setting 104th victory of the season.
Lowry did not play in the major leagues in 1985 but returned to the Tigers in 1986, batting .307 in 56 games. His .307 average in 1986 was the second highest on the Tigers among players with at least 150 at bats. Lowry appeared in 13 more games in 1987, when the team again won AL Eastern division. He was released by the Tigers on October 16, 1987 and signed as a free agent by the Twins on October 23, 1987. Lowry had only eight at bats for the Twins and played his last major league game on April 23, 1988. On April 27, 1988, the Twins optioned Lowry to Portland.
After his playing career ended, Lowry became a manager in the Tigers' minor league system. Lowry managed the Fayetteville Generals
Fayetteville Generals
The Fayetteville Generals were a minor league baseball team located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.They were part of the South Atlantic League between 1987 and 1996. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers throughout their entire existence. Prior to the 1997 season, the Generals were renamed...
for three seasons from 1994-1996. In 1995, he led them to a first place finish (86-55) in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. In 1996, the team's record dropped to 76-63, though they won the second-half South Atlantic League Division Title. For his work with the Generals, Lowry was named the Detroit Tigers Player Development Man of the Year.
In , Lowry was assigned to manage the Jamestown Jammers
Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
of the Short Season-A New York-Penn League. On July 10, just three weeks into the NY-PL season, he died of a heart attack at age 39 after collapsing outside his home in Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
. He died suddenly within an hour of a victory at Russell Diethrick Park
Russell Diethrick Park
Russell Diethrick Park is a stadium in Jamestown, New York. It opened in 1941 and holds 4,200 people. Primarily used for baseball, the stadium is the home field of the Jamestown Jammers Jamestown Community College baseball teams, and at times the Jamestown High School's baseball team...
.
Lowry was survived by his wife, Pamela D. Lowry, two daughters (Sesilie Lowry and Amanda Lowry) and a son (Zachary Lowry).
In 1997, the Detroit Tigers renamed the Player Development Man of the Year Award to the Dwight Lowry Award in his honor. In 1988, he was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame.