Jim Bowden

For the rugby league footballer of the 1950s for Great Britain, England, and Huddersfield, see James Bowden

For the American SCUBA diver, elite technical diver, cave diver, and deep diver, see Jim Bowden (diver)

James Goodwin Bowden IV (born 18 May in Boston, Massachusetts ) is a Baseball Analyst and Insider for ESPN. He writes a blog for ESPN.com titled "The GM's Office" and is a co-host of SiriusXM's "Inside Pitch" on MLB Network Radio. He previously was a Host and Co-Host on Fox Sports Radio, a baseball analyst for FoxSports.com and a Baseball Insider for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels for Fox Sports West. He has held positions of Senior Vice President and General Manager for both the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. On October 16, 1992 he became the youngest general manager in baseball history. He was named MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. Bowden's teams finished in first place in 1994, 1995 and 1999. Jim has also worked in television for ESPN, Fox Sports West as well as local television and radio stations in both Cincinnati and Washington D.C.

Early life and career

Bowden was born in Boston, MA and raised in Weston, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communications and Business Administration. He was the Sports Director at the College radio station as well doing the play by play for both the baseball and soccer teams. HIs broadcast partners included Chris "Mad Dog" Russo (Class of 1982). His entry to professional baseball came as an assistant in the Pittsburgh Pirates media relations department in 1985. He was a former college roommate of Squire Galbreath, whose father Dan and grandfather John were the principal owners of the Pirates. General manager Syd Thrift was impressed with Bowden and asked him to join the Pirates' baseball operations department as an administrator. Bowden computerized the Pirates' scouting files, and became a protege to Thrift. He followed Thrift to the New York Yankees, and eventually moved to the Cincinnati Reds where he was later promoted by the Reds Owner, Marge Schott, to General Manager. He also served as team president during her suspension in 1993.

General manager

His first role as a general manager was with the Cincinnati Reds at age 31 in 1992. When he took this position, he was the youngest general manager in the history of Major League Baseball. He continued with the Reds until July of 2003. He was named Sr. VP and General Manager of the Washington Nationals in November of 2004 and held the position until tendering his resignation on March 1, 2009.

Bowden was named Major League Executive of the Year in 1999 by Baseball America after leading one of the lowest payroll teams in baseball to 96 wins. He won over 1,000 games as a Sr. VP and General Manager and was best known for his leadership, character and integrity.^{[citation needed]}

Broadcasting

Jim is presently a co-host of the SiriusXM show "Inside Pitch" which airs on MLB Network Radio monday through friday from 2-6 p.m. eastern. The show is always loaded with superstar guests including: Players, Managers, General Managers, Coaches, Broadcasters, Writers and Hall of Famers. He also is a Baseball Analyst and Insider for ESPN shooting video's and participating in Podcasts on the ESPN.com web site. He previously was a Host and Co-Host on Fox Sports Radio, a Baseball Analyst for FoxSports.com and a Baseball Insider for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels for Fox Sports West. His broadcasting career included appearances for ESPN's "Cold Pizza Show" which is now called "First Take", SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and Baseball Tonight. He also worked for local television and radio stations in both Cincinnati, OH and Washington D.C. while he was a Major League Senior VP and General Manager in each respective city for a combined 15-years.

References

• "Nationals extend GM Bowden's contract through April", USA Today. 27 October 2005.
• "Jim Bowden's Segway", Washington Times. 19 February 2008.
• "Bowden makes deals--And enemies", Cincinnati Enquirer. 1 April 2001.
• "Boos for Bowden", Concord Monitor. 13 August 2005.