How Larry Bowa Traded Himself to the Cubs (and Brought a Future Hall of Famer Along)

Baseball in Simple Terms (ELI5)

Before we dive in, here’s a quick cheat‑sheet for anyone new to baseball:

• Baseball is a game where two teams take turns hitting a ball and running around four bases to score points (called runs).
• A shortstop and a second baseman are defensive players in the middle of the field; together they are sometimes called the “keystone” pair.
• A trade is when two teams swap players, like exchanging Pokémon cards.
• The World Series is the big final match to decide the best team of the year.
• The Hall of Fame is a special place that honors the absolute greatest players ever.
• All‑Star weekend is a fun break in the middle of the season where the best players put on exhibition games. The Futures Game is a special match where top young hopefuls (called “prospects”) play.

The All‑Star Weekend Scene in Philadelphia

During a recent All‑Star weekend at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, something nostalgic happened:

• Larry Bowa managed the American League team that won 6‑1.
• Shane Victorino managed the National League team.
• Both men represent the only two Phillies teams that ever won the World Series: the 1980 squad and the 2008 squad.
• A young player named Caleb Bonemer (a White Sox “Double‑A” minor leaguer – meaning he’s in the second level of the minor leagues, still learning) started at third base for Bowa and went 0‑for‑2 (that means he batted twice and didn’t get on base either time).

Important Point: Larry Bowa said, “When you have good players, you win.” He knows a thing or two about that—he managed the Phillies and Padres for parts of six seasons ending in 2004, with a record of 418 wins and 435 losses. Sunday’s Futures Game win was his first as a manager since 2004.

Meet Larry Bowa

Larry Bowa is now a spry 80‑year‑old. Here’s his story in kid‑friendly bullets:

• He played baseball for 16 years as a shortstop in the National League.
• He spent his first 12 years with the Phillies and roughly his last 4 with the Cubs.
• Even today he hits fungoes (balls gently tapped by a coach so players can practice catching) and throws batting practice (helping hitters practice).
• Someone joked that he “goes back to Connie Mack” (an old ballpark that closed in 1970 to make way for a newer stadium called “the Vet”). Bowa clarified they meant Connie Mack Stadium, not the person.

The Trade That Made History

In a one‑on‑one chat with the Sun‑Times, Bowa shared how he basically arranged his own trade from the Phillies to the Cubs in late 1982, and he took a little‑known second baseman named Ryne Sandberg with him.

The trade (official date given as January 27, 1982) sent second baseman Ivan DeJesus to Philadelphia. Many say it was the most important trade in Cubs history.

How the Trade Happened – Step by Step

1. Bowa thought he had a deal: He was 35 and wanted to finish his career with the Phillies. He believed he had a 3‑year handshake agreement with owner Ruly Carpenter, but it was never written down.
2. New owner said “no”: The team was sold to a group headed by Bill Giles. Giles told Bowa they’d only give him one year.
3. Bowa demanded a trade: He said, “I shook hands with Ruly, so you better trade me. I’m not playing here for one year.”
4. Special player protection: Bowa was a “5‑and‑10 player” – that means 10 years in the big leagues and 5 years with the same team. This gave him the right to say no to any trade he didn’t like.
5. Cubs call: Former Phillies manager Dallas Green (now Cubs general manager) called Bowa and offered a 4‑year deal worth $2 million total—“blew me out of the water,” Bowa said.
6. The clincher question: Green asked, “Who else would you bring over?” Bowa replied, “That Sandberg is pretty impressive, man.”
7. Waiting game: The deal took five weeks to finalize because Green held firm that Sandberg must be included.

Important Point: Bowa loved to joke with Sandberg: “Don’t forget, you were the throw‑in in that trade.” He wasn’t kidding—Sandberg really was the extra player added to make the deal work.

Ryne Sandberg: The “Throw‑In” Who Became a Star

• By 1984, Bowa and Sandberg were the Cubs’ keystone pairing. The team reached the playoffs for the first time since 1945 but lost to the Padres after leading 2‑0.
• That year Sandberg was named National League MVP (Most Valuable Player).
• He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.
• Sadly, in 2025, Sandberg died at only 65 from advanced prostate cancer. Bowa attended his funeral on August 22, 2025, in Chicago.
• Just two weeks before his death, Sandberg played nine holes of golf. Bowa said, “He never quit.”
• Bowa admitted he never would have guessed Sandberg would become a Hall of Famer: “He was a right‑handed hitter who hit base hits to right field. Great athlete. He could run, throw, catch. And the Phillies just threw him in.”

What Happened to the Great 1980 Phillies?

• The 1980 Phillies won the World Series in six games over the Royals. They were managed by Dallas Green and featured stars like Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and Pete Rose.
• Pete Rose is the all‑time hits leader (4,256), but he is not in the Hall of Fame because he was suspended for betting on baseball as a manager.
• The team fell apart quickly. After a 1981 players’ strike that canceled 713 games, they lost in the expanded playoffs.
• Ownership changed: Tribune Co. bought the Cubs from the Wrigley family; Carpenter sold the Phillies to Bill Giles. Green left to run the Cubs.
• Sandberg was drafted by Philly in the 20th round of 1978, played only 13 games in 1981 with one hit—before the trade changed his life.

Related Stories From the Same Weekend

The original report also highlighted a few other articles worth knowing about:

• MLB All‑Star notes: Munetaka Murakami flamed out of the Home Run Derby; ex‑Cub Kyle Schwarber and ex‑Sox Dylan Cease had starring roles. Murakami hit only nine of 20 pitches out of the park in the first round.
• Pete Crow‑Armstrong reps Cubs solo at All‑Star Game: The young Cubs star pushed back on being called the “face of the team,” saying he’s learned from people giving him that title before his second All‑Star appearance.
• Cubs amazed by Crow‑Armstrong at half‑season: Teammates call him “the total package” and aren’t surprised he’s playing like possibly the best in baseball, even if fans are wowed.

Summary

Larry Bowa, an 80‑year‑old baseball lifer, managed a Futures Game at All‑Star weekend and reminisced about the 1980 Phillies and his famous 1982 trade to the Cubs. Because the new Phillies owner refused to honor a handshake promise, Bowa used his special “5‑and‑10” no‑trade rights to steer a move to Chicago. He suggested the Cubs also take a quiet young infielder named Ryne Sandberg—who became an MVP, a Hall of Famer, and Bowa’s lifelong friend. The trade reshaped Cubs history, while the Phillies’ championship core quickly scattered. Alongside this tale, other All‑Star stories featured rising stars like Pete Crow‑Armstrong and a Home Run Derby flop.

FAQ

1. What does “0‑for‑2” mean in baseball?
It means a player came up to bat twice and failed to get a hit either time—so zero successes in two tries.

2. What is a “fungo” and why does Bowa hit them?
A fungo is a ball lightly struck by a coach so fielders can practice catching. Bowa, even at 80, enjoys hitting them to help younger players.

3. Why wasn’t Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame?
Rose broke a major rule: he bet on baseball games while managing. That got him suspended for life, so he’s excluded from the Hall despite his record 4,256 hits.

4. What is a “5‑and‑10 player”?
It’s a veteran who has played 10 years in the big leagues and the last 5 with the same team. Such players must approve any trade, giving them control over where they go.

5. What was the Futures Game?
It’s an exhibition during All‑Star weekend where the best young minor‑league prospects (like Caleb Bonemer) play against each other to show their skills.