February 24 – Happy Birthday Mike Lowell
I remember being upset when the Yankees traded third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Marlins, after New York picked up Scott Brosius in 1998. I had been following Lowell’s progress at Columbus at the time and he looked like the real deal. Brosius of course went on to have a super 1998 season and postseason and worked his butt off during his four years in pinstripes.
But Mike Lowell turned out to be a very good ballplayer and a class act in the clubhouse. And he would come back and haunt his former franchise for dealing him. He spent seven solid seasons with the Marlins and in 2003, he led them to the World Series where the Fish pulled off an upset 4-games-to-2 victory against the Yankees. That regular season, Lowell set career highs with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs.
Then in November of 2005, Red Sox GM Brian Epstein pulled off a stunning trade with Florida, getting both Lowell and starting pitcher Josh Beckett for a package of four prospects that included both Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez. That deal brought the one-time Yankee prospect back to the AL East Division. During the next five seasons, Lowell appeared in 76 Red Sox-Yankee games and hit .314 in those contests including 12 home runs and 56 RBIs. Even worse, in 2007, he set new career highs in RBIs (120) and batting average (.324) and led Boston to an AL East Division title. He then averaged .352, smashed 18 hits and drove in 15 runs in the Red Sox’ 14-game ’07 postseason, which culminated with a second ring and a World Series MVP award for Lowell.
That ’07 playoff run would turn out to be the high point of Lowell’s career in Beantown. During the next three seasons, he was afflicted with an A-Rod like hip injury that would eventually force him into retirement after the 2010 season.
Its interesting to think about what would have happened if New York started Lowell at third in 1998. Would they have gone for A-Rod when they did if they had a young and productive Lowell at third? Would that mean Soriano might still be a Yankee today? I of course get to ask these questions while Cashman earns his salary by answering them.
Lowell shares his birthday with this former Yankee utility outfielder.
| Year | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | NYY | 8 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .267 | .267 | .533 |
| 13 Yrs | 1601 | 6500 | 5813 | 771 | 1619 | 394 | 7 | 223 | 952 | 30 | 548 | 817 | .279 | .342 | .464 | .805 | |
| FLA (7 yrs) | 981 | 4005 | 3554 | 477 | 965 | 241 | 3 | 143 | 578 | 21 | 354 | 528 | .272 | .339 | .462 | .801 | |
| BOS (5 yrs) | 612 | 2480 | 2244 | 293 | 650 | 153 | 4 | 80 | 374 | 9 | 194 | 288 | .290 | .346 | .468 | .814 | |
| NYY (1 yr) | 8 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .267 | .267 | .533 | |
Pinstripe Birthdays 
So Mike Lowell was a Yankee prospect who later had success with the Red Sox. Usually it seems to be the other way around like Babe Ruth, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Johhny Damon and now Kevin Youkolis who make their way from the REd Sox to pinstripes lol
Theo Epstein, not Brian Epstein : )
Amazing that he had surgery for cancer 3 weeks after being traded to the Marlins. Great player and leader.
Completely agree Rich. Lowell was the real deal.