Former Phillies player, manager, GM Owens dies at 79

PHILADELPHIA -- Paul Owens, general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies' 1980 World Series championship team, died Friday. He was 79.

Owens died at Underwood Hospital in Woodbury, N.J., following a lengthy illness, the Phillies said.

Paul Owens joined the Phillies as a player-manager in 1955 and remained with the team until his death.(AP)

Owens, nicknamed "The Pope" because of his resemblance to Pope Paul VI, also managed the Phillies' team that won the National League pennant in 1983. He signed and helped develop some of the team's major stars of the 1970s and 1980s, including Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Bob Boone and Greg Luzinski.

"Pope was one of my dearest friends and my mentor," said Dallas Green, who managed the 1980 Phillies. "He was one of the best baseball men I've been around. He taught me so much about baseball and life. He had great judgment, tremendous patience and a love and feel for this game."

Owens joined the Phillies' organization as a player-manager in Olean, N.Y., in 1955, and remained with the team in various positions until his death. In 1986, the Phillies honored him by creating the Paul Owens Award for the best player and pitcher in the team's minor league system.

The former St. Bonaventure star served in the Army in World War II as a sergeant in an engineering company.

Born in Salamanca, N.Y., on Feb. 7, 1924, Owens is survived by wife Marcelle, sons Danny and Pat and five grandchildren.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved