Salem University Athletics

Born October 2, 1911, Rex Bowen graduated from Salem College in 1933. He played baseball and football, serving as captain of the baseball team his senior year. He continued his baseball career, working professionally with the great Branch Rickey as a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
 
He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as a scout in 1950 and became chief scout Pirates in 1959. He concluded his baseball career as the Director of Playing Personnel for the Cincinnati Reds in 1968. Each of these assignments culminated in a World Series Championship.
 
Joe Abramson, the noted sports writer, once reported that Rex Bowen had the greatest scouting record in the history of baseball. He signed the 17-year-old Bill 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, and Maury Wells, the NL MVP in 1962. Other Pirates he signed included Gene Michael, now a senior executive with the Yankees, and George and Gene Freese.
 
Bowen was chosen as one of the top 10 baseball scouts of the 20th century by the trade publication Baseball America.
 
Rex Bowen died on December 30, 2004 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.