Rich Rowland

Paul Bunyan has nothing on Rich Rowland. Bunyan was a mythical giant lumberjack and folk hero in American and Canadian folklore. He had a pet blue ox named Babe, but never played in the major leagues.1 Rowland – who was “strong like an ox”2 – worked as a lumberjack and heavy equipment operator in the northern California woods for several years, but also played in six big-league seasons (1990-95) for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. He wasn’t as big as Paul Bunyan, but the 6-foot-1, 210-pound catcher could swing an ax and hit home runs on the baseball diamond, too.

Garnet Richard Rowland II was born to Garnet Richard and Annette (née Reisbeck) Rowland on February 25, 1964, in Cloverdale, California, a small city with a population of nearly 3,000 located about 90 miles north of San Francisco. The elder Rowland worked as a millwright and foreman in the lumber mill business. “He instilled a work ethic in me to be accountable and to never give up!” Rich Rowland said years later.3 Mr. Rowland is alive (as of December 2024) and retired at age 89. Annette, known as “Snookie,” was an artist and owned an arts and crafts store in Cloverdale. “She showed me how to control frustration when things didn’t go as planned,” said Rowland.4 Snookie passed away in 2015.

Nicknamed “Rich” as a child, Rowland played baseball and basketball prior to his high school years. He attended Cloverdale High and was a star player for the Eagles in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. Rowland played mostly pitcher and shortstop on the diamond, earning all-North Central League honors in his junior year. On the gridiron, Rowland was a rifle-armed quarterback who was an all-conference pick in both his junior and senior years. In his senior year, Rowland passed for over 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns, ran for 713 yards with 13 touchdowns, and was named the North Central League I Offensive Player of the Year.5 Rowland was no slouch as a basketball player, earning all-conference honors in his junior and senior years. He averaged over 13 points per game during his three-year varsity career and helped lead his team to the Northern California Division 3 state title as a senior. The only negative during Rowland’s career was his removal from the baseball team in late May of his final year for “classroom absenteeism,”6

In the fall of 1982, Rowland enrolled at Ventura College, several hours south. After playing one year of baseball, he then fell off the sporting map. Rowland revealed to the author that he was working as a heavy equipment operator for a couple of years in the forest industry, making $25,000 per year ($66,000 in 2024 money). He wasn’t seriously considering a career in baseball.7 In September 1987, Rowland married Carol Ann Crittendon in Cloverdale.

Rowland was playing in a summer baseball league for the Cloverdale Merchants in 1987 when coach Dan Stacy passed word about Rowland’s abilities to Mendocino College head coach Lefty Olguin. “Dan was influential in my decision to play again,” Rowland said. “And [he is] a dear friend to this day.”8 Rowland quit his good-paying job and enrolled at Mendocino; after an impressive spring in which he batted .462 while playing catcher for the Eagles, he was selected in the 17th round of the June 1988 amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers. “I feel real fortunate,” Rowland said right after the draft. “It wouldn’t have happened without Lefty.”9

Rowland also credited his wife during this time. “Carol was the most responsible person for all my achievements and gains in my life,” Rowland said. “She worked to support us during the time I took off to try and make a career out of baseball. It never would have taken place without her support.”10

The righty-hitting Rowland was assigned to Bristol (Virginia) in the Appalachian League (rookie ball). He had a solid season, slashing .274/.364/.403 with 41 RBIs in only 186 at-bats. And to put a bow on a nice rookie season, Carol Ann and Rich welcomed son Garnet Richard III (Richie) into the world on August 18.

In 1989, Rowland moved up to Single-A Fayetteville (North Carolina) in the South Atlantic League. In late June/early July, Rowland missed about three weeks with a broken right thumb suffered while sliding into home attempting to score a run.11 Rowland finished the year with nine home runs, 59 RBIs, and a slash line of .272/.366/.395 in 375 at-bats.

Rowland got his first opportunity to shine at the Tigers’ major-league camp in 1990. He reportedly had a very impressive “pop time” of 1.74 seconds, which even today would be among the majors’ best.12 But the Tigers elected to send Rowland down for more seasoning, so he started the season at Double-A London (Ontario, Canada) in the Eastern League. He was hitting .286/.373/.497 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 161 at-bats when he got called up to Triple-A Toledo in the International League in mid-June. Rowland quickly became a favorite with Mud Hens fans when he got three hits in his first three at-bats for the Triple-A squad, including a home run. Tigers manager Sparky Anderson was also impressed and said, “He’s a big strong kid with lots of power and strength. He’s got a great chance to play.”13

Rowland’s manager in Toledo that season, Tom Gamboa, also had praise. In his 2018 memoir, Gamboa said that beyond raw strength, Rowland “had incredible determination. . . he would’ve been successful in any business that he had gone into because of his personality and work ethic.”14

After the Mud Hens season ended, Rowland got the call-up to Detroit. He slashed .260/.314/.432 with seven homers in 192 at-bats for Toledo before moving up to Motown. It didn’t take long to get his first action – he was on Sparky’s lineup card on September 7, batting eighth as the designated hitter against Milwaukee at County Stadium. Facing left-hander Teddy Higuera, Rowland grounded to short, struck out looking, and drew a walk before getting lifted for pinch-hitter John Shelby in the top of the ninth in a 6-5 loss. Two days later, Rowland got a start at catcher and got his first major-league hit – a double – off reliever Narciso Elvira in the top of the ninth. One batter later, he scored on Milt Cuyler’s double in a 5-0 Tiger win. Rowland finished his first season in the bigs with three hits in 19 at-bats (.158/.238/.211) in seven games (six starts).

Rowland’s role in 1991 was iffy in view of the status of free agent catcher Mike Heath, who had finished his fifth season in Detroit. Shortly before Heath signed in January with the Atlanta Braves, the Tigers traded for Mickey Tettleton. That and the acquisition of veteran backstop Andy Allanson late in spring training ended Rowland’s chance of starting in Detroit that spring – he was ticketed for Triple-A ball at Toledo again.

The big catcher/designated hitter was on the disabled list with severe back spasms for a couple weeks in mid-May but returned to finish out the season with Toledo before getting called up to the big club in September. His numbers at Toledo were again solid, with 13 home runs, 68 RBIs (seventh in the league), 26 doubles (third in the league), and a slash line of .272/.374/.441 across 383 at-bats. Rowland also threw out 51% of the runners trying to steal against him. His time in Detroit was not so good. Rowland played four games, with one start at DH, and had one hit, a walk and a sacrifice fly in six plate appearances.

Rowland spent the winter in Toledo and was one of several players who worked with the Tigers’ strength and conditioning coach, Brad Andress.15 That would pay dividends the following season. The Rowlands also got an early Christmas present when son Robert Christopher (Robbie) was born on December 15.

Spring training began and it looked like Rowland had a great chance to win the Tigers’ backup catching spot behind Tettleton. Allanson and the other reserve catcher, Mark Salas, had made “so-so showings” in 1991.16 Detroit let both go in free agency. Rowland was viewed as the top catching prospect in the organization.17 He started slowly in camp, however, hitting only .188 by mid-March. Although he warmed up the last two weeks and finished at .250, non-roster invitee Chad Kreuter (.345) won the spot.

Rowland was sent down to Toledo once more and struggled in the early going, batting only .140 (8-for-57) in April. To further complicate matters, backup catcher Marty Pevey was red-hot, hitting .464 in 28 at-bats. But when Pevey got injured in mid-June, Rowland got the vast majority of the at-bats over the rest of the season, finishing with a slash line of .235/.317/.438 with a career-high 25 home runs and 82 RBIs. He also stole nine bases in 12 attempts, both career highs for the catcher. His 25 circuit clouts were second in the league behind Hensley Meulens (26) and his RBI total was fourth best. He also excelled defensively, throwing out 46 of 108 (42.6%) would-be base stealers. For his efforts, Rowland was named to the International League all-star team and was also honored by USA Today as the Tigers’ minor league player of the year. Rowland was called up again by Detroit in early September but saw limited action. He hit .214/.353/.214 in 14 at-bats, but did show a good eye, drawing three bases on balls.

In November 1992, the expansion draft took place for the two new National League franchises, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. However, Detroit put Rowland on their 15-man “protected list,” so he was not drafted. In December, Rowland was selected to the Triple-A All Star team by the Topps Company, in conjunction with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. He was joined on that squad by future stars such as J.T. Snow, Bret Boone, and Tim Salmon.

Rowland struggled early in spring training 1993, getting limited chances to play. He had only two hits in 13 at-bats by mid-March before going 5-for-17 the last two weeks to finish at .233. Since he was the only backup catcher candidate with minor-league options left, Rowland was sent back to Toledo to start the season at Triple-A for the third straight year. The catcher voiced his unhappiness with Tigers general manager Jerry Walker and asked about the possibility of a trade. “I understand his disappointment,” Walker said. “But he’s not the type of guy you want to give away.”18

The slugging catcher put aside his feelings and performed well enough in the first half (.260, 16 HR, 45 RBIs) to be voted as a reserve catcher to the Triple-A All-Star team, which included players from the International League, Pacific Coast League, and American Association. Rowland went hitless in two at-bats while the National League affiliate team crushed Rowland’s American League team, 14-3. Ryan Klesko was the big gun, going 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs, and three RBIs.

In early August, Detroit recalled Rowland when Milt Cuyler went on the 15-day disabled list. He spent the rest of the year for the Tigers but played in only 21 games (13 starts) and slashed .217/.294/.283 across 46 at-bats. Rowland had three doubles among his 10 hits and drove in four runs. His time in Toledo was more impressive: he hit .268/.369/.548 with 21 homers and 59 RBIs in just 325 at-bats.

Rowland began spring training in 1994 competing with Tettleton (who had begun to play a lot at first base and in the outfield the previous year), Kreuter, and Lance Parrish. Parrish, a Tiger star from 1977-1986, had returned as a 37-year-old non-roster invitee. Rowland was out of minor-league options, so there was a good chance he would either be claimed off waivers or traded. Parrish ended up being cut at the end of March and Rowland was traded to Boston for catcher John Flaherty on April 1. “[Sparky] brought me into his office…and wanted to put me on the disabled list until they could figure out what to do with me,” Rowland said years later. “I told him I wasn’t hurt and didn’t want to go on the DL. Well, that night I was traded to the Red Sox straight up for John Flaherty.”19

Damon Berryhill, Dave Valle, and Rowland split time in Boston until Valle was traded to Milwaukee on June 16 for outfielder Tom Brunansky. Six weeks later, Rowland dislocated a couple of toes on his left foot while running out a base hit against Seattle at Fenway Park. He missed a week – but when he came back, he was red-hot, going 8-for-19 (.421) with three home runs and five RBIs in his next seven contests. However, then the MLB players went on strike on August 12, canceling the rest of the season and the World Series. “I was a victim of the 1994 strike,” Rowland said. “I was on fire at the plate and then (the strike) had to happen.”20 He ended the year with a slash line of .229/.295/.483 with nine home runs in 118 at-bats.

In October 1994, Berryhill was granted free agency and would sign with Cincinnati. Bill Haselman was signed as a free agent a month later and then to complicate matters further, Mike Macfarlane was inked to a free agent pact in April 1995. “They changed all [catching] personnel and I was on the bench again,” Rowland said.21 In mid-June, Rowland – who had played in only 14 of Boston’s first 48 games – was designated for assignment. “I never got back to the big leagues after that,” he noted.22 Rowland, who struck out swinging against Paul Assenmacher in his final big league at-bat on June 19, had a slash line of .172/.172/.207 in just 29 at-bass.

Rowland cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket (Rhode Island) in the International League. There he played in 34 games, slashing .258/.301/.508, smacking seven doubles and eight homers. After the season he was released by the Red Sox; two months later he signed a minor-league deal with Toronto.

Rowland spent all of 1996 playing at Triple-A Syracuse in the International League. He caught the majority of the games for the Chiefs, appearing in 83 contests behind the plate and throwing out 32% of would-be base thieves. His slash line was .226/.344/.406, with 24 doubles, eight home runs, and 45 RBIs across 288 at-bats. Rowland was released by the Blue Jays and was signed to a minor-league contract by San Francisco in December.

By then 33, Rowland played just 19 games for Triple-A Phoenix in the Pacific Coast League, batting .237/.318/.424 in 59 at-bats. After being released in late May, he had an offer from Milwaukee to play at Triple-A, but he decided to go back to Cloverdale and be with his family. Rowland worked in the timber industry until recently, and as he said, “It was an on-and-off job with the industry going downhill.”23 Now he does woodworking with redwood, making things like tables and chests.

Rowland’s son Richie, a catcher/first baseman, was drafted in 2007 by Colorado in the 40th round but elected to attend Campbellsville (Kentucky) University. He signed as a free agent with Arizona in 2010. Robbie Rowland, a right-handed pitcher, was selected by Arizona in the third round of the June 2010 draft. The brothers both spent the 2010 season at Missoula (Montana) in the Pioneer League (rookie ball). Richie played only that year, but Robbie pitched for many years in the minors – getting as high as Class AA – and indie circuits. He was active most recently in the 2023-24 season for Mayagüez in the Puerto Rican Winter League. “Both kids are exceptional human beings, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Rich Rowland said.24

Rowland and Carol Ann still reside in Cloverdale.

Last revised: December 9, 2024

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Rich Rowland for adding comments and facts via email and text messages with the author in August 2024.

This biography was reviewed by Gregory H. Wolf and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Terry Bohn.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet.org.

Notes

1 The children’s story John Henry and Paul Bunyan Play Baseball (1971) has the folk heroes squaring off, using cotton bales for balls.

2 Tom Gamboa with David Russell, My Life in Baseball, Jefferson, North Carolina, McFarland & Company (2018): 72.

3 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

4 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

5 “Final Prep Leaders,” and “Eagles’ Rich Rowland did it all,” Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California), December 2, 1981: 2B.

6 “NCS baseball playoffs at Anton Stadium tomorrow,” Ukiah (California) Daily Journal, May 27, 1982: 6.

7 Rich Rowland text exchange with author, August 10, 2024.

8 Rich Rowland text exchange with author, August 10, 2024.

9 Dave Curl, “Detroit signs Rowland to contract,” Ukiah Daily Journal, June 6, 1988: 12.

10 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

11 “Dad joins Rich Rowland’s fans at ballgame in Fayetteville,” Cloverdale (California) Reveille, August 2, 1989: 9.

12 “Rowland up with Tigers’ main camp,” Ukiah Daily Journal, April 4, 1990: 9.

13 Bob Duff, “Tiger youth get a shot,” Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada), July 12, 1990: B2.

14 Gamboa, My Life in Baseball: 72.

15 Gene Guidi, “Memorial Stadium has memories for Sparky,” Detroit Free Press, October 7, 1991: 5D.

16 Reid Creager, “Detroit Tigers,” The Sporting News, October 14, 1991: 21.

17 Reid Creager, “Detroit Tigers,” The Sporting News, December 9, 1991: 36.

18 Joe Cybulski, “Rowland has shown he belongs,” Detroit Free Press, May 12, 1993: 5D.

19 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

20 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

21 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

22 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.

23 Rich Rowland text exchange with author, August 17, 2024.

24 Rich Rowland email exchange with author, August 11, 2024.