Bama Rowell

Who was Bama Rowell?

Carvel William "Bama" Rowell was an American professional baseball player. In Major League Baseball, he was a second baseman and outfielder for the Boston Bees/Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. Rowell was a native and lifelong resident of Citronelle, Alabama. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds.

He finished 21st in voting for the 1940 National League Most Valuable Player for playing in 130 games and having 486 at bats, 46 runs scored, 148 hits, 19 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 58 runs batted in, 12 stolen bases, 18 walks, .305 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, .395 slugging percentage, 192 total bases and three sacrifice hits.

In six MLB seasons Rowell played in 574 games and had 1,901 at bats, 200 runs scored, 523 hits, 95 doubles, 26 triples, 19 home runs, 217 RBI, 37 stolen bases, 113 salks, a .275 batting average, .316 on-base percentage, and .382 slugging percentage, with 727 total bases and 27 sacrifice hits.

On May 30, 1946 at Ebbets Field, Rowell hit a home run which broke the Bulova clock on the stadium's scoreboard, shattering the clock's glass. Although Bulova promised a free watch to anyone who hit the clock, Rowell didn't receive his watch until 41 years later, on Bama Rowell day in Citronelle.