Billy Cowan

Born: 8/28/1938 in Calhoun City, MS, USA

MLB Debut: 1963-09-09 | Final Game: 1972-04-24

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Billy Rolland Cowan

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Biography

Billy Cowan, born in 1938, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1963 until 1972. Primarily recognized for his role as a position player, Cowan played a total of 493 games throughout his career. He accumulated 281 hits, including 40 home runs, and drove in 125 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively during a time when power hitting was becoming increasingly valued in the game. Cowan's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by the rise of power hitters and the evolving strategies of the game. With a batting average of .236 and 17 stolen bases, he demonstrated versatility, combining speed with the ability to hit for power. Although his numbers may not place him among the most prominent players of his time, Cowan's contributions were significant in the context of the teams he played for, leaving a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike. He retired on April 24, 1972, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the competitive spirit and changing dynamics of baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
493	1190	131	281	44	8	40	125	17	50	297	0.236	0.269	0.387	0.656	-1131.5

Career AVG .236 vs. league average .248 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .269 vs. league average .314 across their career seasons — 14.6% below league average.

Career SLG .387 vs. league average .369 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.656 vs. league average 0.684 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1963	CHC	NL	14	36	1	9	1	1	1	2	0	0	11	0.250	—	—	—	—	0.0
1964	CHC	NL	139	497	52	120	16	4	19	50	12	18	128	0.241	.250 (-4%)	.312 (-14%)	.377 (+7%)	.690 (-3%)	-445.4
1965	NYN	NL	82	156	16	28	8	2	3	9	3	4	45	0.179	.245 (-27%)	.310 (-34%)	.371 (-15%)	.682 (-24%)	-714.9
1965	ATL	NL	19	27	4	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0.185	—	—	—	—	-714.9
1967	PHI	NL	34	59	11	9	0	0	3	6	1	4	14	0.153	.242 (-37%)	.306 (-34%)	.357 (-15%)	.663 (-23%)	-237.7
1969	NYY	AL	32	48	5	8	0	0	1	3	0	3	9	0.167	—	—	—	—	-276.8
1969	LAA	AL	28	56	10	17	1	0	4	10	0	3	9	0.304	.248 (+22%)	.320 (+9%)	.369 (+45%)	.689 (+28%)	-276.8
1970	LAA	AL	68	134	20	37	9	1	5	25	0	11	29	0.276	.253 (+9%)	.325 (+3%)	.385 (+22%)	.711 (+13%)	286.7
1971	LAA	AL	74	174	12	48	8	0	4	20	1	7	41	0.276	.249 (+11%)	.316 (-4%)	.365 (+7%)	.682 (+2%)	13.1
1972	LAA	AL	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	25	17	133	8	1	18
2B	3	0	1	1	0	0
3B	3	0	1	0	0	0
OF	329	251	540	10	13	3
SS	1	0	2	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1963	CHN	OF	10	8	10	1	1	1
1964	CHN	OF	134	127	297	2	10	0
1965	NYN	2B	2	0	1	1	0	0
1965	NYN	OF	61	35	80	2	0	2
1965	NYN	SS	1	0	2	0	0	0
1965	ML1	OF	10	4	8	0	0	0
1967	PHI	2B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1967	PHI	3B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1967	PHI	OF	20	16	19	0	0	0
1969	NYA	OF	14	7	16	1	0	0
1969	CAL	1B	6	4	32	1	0	3
1969	CAL	OF	13	5	15	3	0	0
1970	CAL	1B	14	9	69	6	0	7
1970	CAL	3B	2	0	1	0	0	0
1970	CAL	OF	27	18	26	0	2	0
1971	CAL	1B	5	4	32	1	1	8
1971	CAL	OF	40	31	69	1	0	0