Red Sox mourn the passing of scout Charles "Buzz" Bowers

Charles "Buzz" Bowers, who spent nearly 30 years as a member of the Red Sox scouting staff, passed away on Friday in his home in East Orleans, MA. He was 86 years old.

Bowers, who joined the Red Sox in 1992, was known as one of the most dedicated scouts during his more than 65 years in baseball. In addition to the Red Sox, he also spent time scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies and pitched in the Phillies' minor league system.

The native of Wayland, MA was one of the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame in 2008. At Major League Baseball's 2012 Winter Meetings, he was recognized as East Coast Scout of the Year.

Just two years after joining the Red Sox, Bowers was named the organization's 1994 Scout of the Year. The Red Sox players he signed include major leaguers Lou Merloni, Carl Pavano, Brian Rose, and Steve Lomasney.

Until his passing, he served the organization as a part-time amateur scout, tracking players in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Bowers attended Michigan State on a baseball scholarship after starring as a pitcher on Wayland High School's baseball team. In 1949, following his sophomore year in college, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He went on to pitch in in the minor leagues surrounding service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952-54.

He is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at Wayland High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. For more than 30 years, he also served as a coach and Director of Physical Education and Athletics prior to his retirement in 1987.

Bowers is survived by his wife of 64 years, Virginia ("Ginny"), their four daughters, Debbie, Nancy, Lee Ann, and Linda, as well as eight grandchildren and four great grandsons. He had been living in East Orleans, MA.

Visitations will take place on Friday, August 7, 2015 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home in Wayland. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Wayland.