Rex Bowen, 93; Baseball Scout for Pirates and Reds

Rex Bowen, 93, a baseball scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds who discovered Bill Mazeroski and several other leading players, died Thursday in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., the Pirates announced.

The cause of death was not reported.

A native of Bridgeton, N.J., Bowen joined the Pirates as a scout in 1950 and became scouting director in 1959. He joined the Reds in 1968.

Bowen signed the 17-year-old Mazeroski, who went on to become the hero of the 1960 World Series, to a contract after a tryout in 1954.

Bowen also signed Pirate shortstop Dick Groat, the National League’s most valuable player in 1960. Other Pirates he signed included Gene Michael, now a senior executive with the Yankees, and Gene Freese.

Bowen was chosen as one of the top 10 baseball scouts of the 20th century by the trade publication Baseball America.