Science Hill High School

Ferrell Bowman

Ernie Ferrell Bowman 1954

Before his 14-year professional baseball career, Ferrell Bowman was a 1,000-point scorer for Science Hill's basketball team and a state long jump champion as a senior in 1954. He also started at second base as a freshman in the state tournament for a 'Toppers team that finished runner-up.

"I was petrified," he said. "Fourteen years old, playing second base in the state tournament in Memphis."

Bowman grew up in the 200 block of Elm Street, a half block from Langston, Johnson City's segregated school for blacks. His childhood was integrated even if the city schools weren‘t.

Bowman remembers attending Langston games when he, Pappy Crowe and the referees were the only whites in the place. Bowman was worth watching in a gym too.

“He wasn’t 6-feet but he could dunk,” said Bowman’s Coach Sid Smallwood. “Ferrell could high jump well over six feet.”

He averaged approximately 20 points per game as a senior and Science Hill entered the state tournament 26-0, but lost by a point in the opening round.

"That was the biggest disappointment I probably ever had," Bowman said.

Growing up lean near the railroads tracks never dimmed Bowman’s dream.

"I would stand on the railroad tracks with a stick and rocks,” Bowman said, “and pretend I was Ralph Kiner hitting home runs.”

Bowman signed to play baseball at Tennessee, but transferred to ETSU when Robert Neyland insisted he try returning punts and playing defensive back too. He played basketball and said Madison Brooks' Bucs reached the NAIA Sweet 16 in Kansas City in 1956. Shortly thereafter, he signed with the New York Giants and joined them in spring training.

Bowman spent three years in Major League Baseball (1961-63), all with the San Francisco Giants. A utility infielder, he had four doubles, two triples and a home run in 205 career at-bats.

He scored a run in the 1962 World Series, which the Giants lost to the Yankees when Ralph Terry pitched a four-hit shutout for a 1-0 victory in Game Seven. Getting to play with Willie Mays, Felipe and Matty Alou, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey was surreal.

“Willie Mays was the best player ever, period,” Bowman said.

Mays introduced him to basketball great Oscar Robertson, who came in to speak when Bowman was inducted into the Northeast Tennessee Hall of Fame in 1993.

He also became good friends with the likes of Tug McGraw and Lou Piniella along the way. Tom Seaver thanked Bowman for helping him with friendly advice -- "throw the fastball" -- in his book.

Whether he was getting a spot start against Don Drysdale -- "Jimmy Davenport's wrist always hurt when Drysdale pitched," Bowman says with a laugh -- or frog gigging with Don Larson, Bowman wouldn't trade anything for his journey.

"Sometimes it's still a wonder to me," Bowman said, "doing all I was able to do after coming off Elm Street at 140 pounds."