Major League Friendship
Brian Bark and Brian Kowitz have been friends for a long time, right into the major leagues this season.
JEFF SIEDEL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Tian Bark and Brian Kowitz have many things
in common and done many things together.
In addition to their first names and coming
from the same hometown (Baltimore), the two
Jewish baseball players were both drafted by
the Atlanta Braves in 1990 and began their
professional careers that season. The two play-
ers moved through the Atlanta minor-league
system and roomed together off and on since
1990. Both began this season playing for Rich-
mond, the top Atlanta farm club.
But that's where their story diverged.
Bark, a left-handed reliever, felt he had gone
as far as possible with Atlanta and asked for
his release, which he was given on June 1. Two
days later, Atlanta called up Kowitz.
At the same time, the Boston Red Sox signed
Bark. He pitched well for a month and was
called up to the major leagues on July 6.
Meanwhile, Kowitz was helping to take the
place of injured All-Star outfielder David Jus-
tice. Kowitz, an outfielder, started five times
for the Braves (they won four) in a 15-day stint
that ended when Justice came offthe disabled
list.
Brian Kowitz: Near his goal.
Despite a .167 batting average (4-for-24),
Kowitz said he swung the bat well and some
balls just did not fall for him. He scored three
runs and knocked in three as well as making
the ESPN highlights and gaining praise from
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox for his play.
"I felt really comfortable," said Kowitz, 25.
"I was disappointed that I didn't get more hits,
but that's the way the game is. Sometimes
you're going to get them and sometimes you're
not."
The one Kowitz will always remember was
his first hit, a double against Shane Reynolds
of Houston on Sunday, June 3. Kowitz, pinch-
hitting in the bottom of the fifth, slapped a dou-
ble down the left-field line to score Charlie
O'Brien.
The umpire came over to congratulate
Kowitz, as did Houston infielder Craig Biggio.
The ball was returned to the Atlanta dugout
for Kowitz to keep.
"I was so excited that I almost slid past sec-
ond base," said Kowitz. "I took time out, wiped
offmy pants...and I just got chills up and down
my body. I said to myself, right there, that
no matter what else happens, everything Brian Bark: From Braves to Sox.
I've done to get to this point is worth it."
Atlanta sent Kowitz back to the minor Pawtucket, R.I. He threw well for a month,
leagues after 15 days. But that did little to and Boston called him up on July 6 — just a
affect his self-confidence. Kowitz told Cox few weeks after Atlanta sent Kowitz down.
that he would be back — and the manag-
The reliever made his major league debut
er agreed — but knew that he had some in Minnesota, retiring the lone batter he faced
more work to do.
despite having gone 36 hours without sleep.
And Kowitz had done a lot to get to this His second performance came after the All-
point. He graduated from Boys Latin, a Star break, on July 15, when he threw a score-
private school in Baltimore, in 1987 and less inning against Texas.
was one of the area's top baseball players
Bark said he holds no animosity toward At-
in addition to being a basketball and foot- lanta, calling it a first-class organization. He
ball star.
was just grateful for a shot at the big leagues.
Kowitz then starred for Clemson for
'What was exciting was to walk into the
three years, batting .408 in his final Tear---clul5house and seeing Willie McGee to my
with a 37-game hitting_streak-thaffielped right, Jose Canseco in back and Roger
-become-die-Atlantic Coast Conference Clemens to my left," said Bark. "That's all I
Player of the Year and an All-American.
needed to see."
The Bark story is similar. He led Ran-
Kowitz, batting .272 with Richmond
da llstown High School to a Maryland state through July 16, said he knew that Bark was
championship in 1985 before graduating a becoming more and more frustrated with the
year later and starring at North Carolina Braves and going to the Boston organization
State, where he was All-ACC and All-Amer- gave the pitcher a fresh start.
ican.
"He was kind of down and out with the
Bark worked on becoming a good relief Braves," said KOwitz. "You could just see (af-
pitcher and threw well at each minor- ter, Boston signed him) the fire burning in him
league stop. He made the Braves' top farm again. He knew he had a better chance. When
team at Richmond in 1992, and Atlanta he was called up, I got so excited for-him. I
put him on its 40-man major league roster know he deserves to be there." But, like
a few years ago. They took him off this past Kowitz, Bark is now playing in the minors;
winter, and when this season began, the the Red Sox sent him down last weekend.
26-year old Bark began to seriously won-
The pair did have an interesting moment
der about his future with Atlanta. He felt in late June. Pawtucket met Richmond, and
coming off the major-league roster gave Bark faced Kowitz. The outfielder said bat-
him a clear look at Atlanta's intentions, and ting against his friend proved rather difficult.
it was time to do something about it.
Kowitz — who eventually walked —
"I just saw I was going nowhere with watched Bark's feet at the beginning because
them," said Bark. "I had five of the best he said he could not watch the pitcher's face
pitchers in baseball right ahead of me, and and stay completely serious.
there was nowhere to move."
"It was terrific," said Bark. "When he got
Bark decided to ask for his release. called up, we talked three times a week.
Boston signed him only a few days later When I got called up, we talked three times
and assigned him to its top farm club at a week" D
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