Former Bisons pitching coach Ken Rowe passes away
Rowe was with the Bisons for parts of four seasons. He first served as pitching coach under manager Jeff Datz in 1999 and guided the pitching staff to the second best ERA (4.34) in the International League. He remained at that position when Joel Skinner took over the club in 2000. Rowe then took over the position on June 2, 2004 and helped the Herd to the International League Governors' Cup Championship under manager Marty Brown. Rowe continued as pitching coach with Brown in 2005 as the Bisons won the IL North Division Title.
During his time in Buffalo, Rowe worked with such pitchers as Travis Driskill, David Riske, Tim Drew, Chris Haney, Chris Nichting, Jeremy Guthrie, Kyle Denney, Fernando Cabrera, Fausto Carmona and Francisco Cruceta.
Rowe spent over 50 years in the game of baseball. He pitched professionally for 15 seasons from 1953-1968 and spent time with the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1964 and 1965. In 1964 while with the Dodger's Triple-A affiliate, he pitched in a then-record 94 games, finishing with a record of 17-11 as a relief. He missed the 1957 season while serving in the United States Army.
Rowe's work as a coach began in 1968 as a manager in the Appalachian League. He served as an instructor/coach in the Phillies, Orioles, Yankees and Indians minor league systems.