Bowa Back With Phillies as Third-Base Coach

Larry Bowa, fired as manager of the Padres on May 28, returned to the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday when he was named third-base coach for the remainder of the season.

Bowa, 42, was the backbone of the Phillies’ defense for 12 years, during which he was an All-Star shortstop five times. After a salary dispute with owner Bill Giles, he and Ryne Sandberg were traded before the 1982 season to the Chicago Cubs for Ivan DeJesus.

“I didn’t leave on very good terms, but time heals all wounds,” Bowa said.

“I’m happy to be back in Philadelphia. This is home for me. I’m not remembered as a Cub or a Met; I’m a Phillie. I’m just thankful to be back here to help (Manager) Lee Elia in any way that I can.

“Bill Giles and I have settled our differences,” Bowa said. “I never called him a liar, and I got in all that trouble. At the time, I felt I was right, and he felt he was right. It’s over. We’ve had dinner the past two winters, and things have been quite cordial.”

More important, Bowa has Elia in his corner.

“I’ve managed Larry Bowa, I’ve managed against him, I’ve coached him, I’m his neighbor in Florida, and I’m his friend,” Elia said. “I want him here because he can make us a better ballclub.

“Larry Bowa is always going to be Larry Bowa,” Elia said with a grin. “Only now, he’s going to be Larry the coach.”

Bowa’s legendary temper and burning desire to win--two intangibles sorely lacking among the current Phillies--will be welcome additions.

“My enthusiasm will rub off,” Bowa said. “If Lee wants me to jump on somebody, I’m not afraid to do it. Lee’s the manager, he’s my boss, and I’ll do whatever he wants.”

Bowa’s temper and perfectionism helped lead to his undoing with the Padres, whom he joined as manager in 1987. He had a 65-97 record in his first year, but his lack of patience with a young team began to make a number of players uncomfortable. With the 1988 record at 16-30, Bowa was fired and replaced by Jack McKeon, the club’s general manager. McKeon has since compiled a 37-31 record.

Within days of his firing by the Padres, Bowa had returned to Philadelphia and met with Giles to discuss job opportunities. Bowa came away from the meeting saying that the team had given him three or four options to consider.

Bowa didn’t deny he’d like to manage in the majors again.

“Let’s face it, I was rushed into that job (with the Padres),” Bowa said. “Strategy-wise, I didn’t do that bad of a job. I didn’t handle the personalities well. Watching Lee handle the personalities here, he’s done a good job. Me, I would have snapped about 100 times, so maybe I can learn something. You do a lot of observing as a coach, and that will help me.”

Bowa doesn’t foresee himself replacing Elia as the skipper.

“Lee’s going to be successful here,” he said. “He’s a good baseball man. Replacing him is the farthest thing from my mind. Right now, I’m glad to be a coach. Maybe on the horizon, three or four years from now, something will change.”