Triple Play Baseball Club - Birmingham, Alabama

Auburn University at Montgomery Head Baseball Coach Q. V. Lowe Headlines September Meeting!

Head coach Q.V. Lowe has seen a project he developed from the first brick establish itself as one of the best programs in the NAIA. Lowe was selected to become the first coach in the history of the Auburn University at Montgomery baseball programs, and is now entering his 22nd season as the only head coach in the program’s history.

The 64-year old Red Level, Alabama native brought more than 20 years of successful baseball experience with him when he was chosen in May 1986 by then athletic director Larry Chapman to develop a new program at AUM.

Lowe has brought Senators baseball from an idea to a program that ranks among the nation’s elite. The Senators have made three appearances in the NAIA World Series, including the magical run in 2006 that saw the Senators achieve a final ranking of third in the nation and to be one of the final six teams playing at the World Series. In 1990, the Senators finished the season as the NAIA National Runners-up at the World Series. Lowe was awarded the NAIA National Coach-of-the-Year award that season.

The Senators have achieved a number one ranking in the NAIA baseball poll, along with eight conference championships and three regional championships during Lowe’s tenure.

Lowe began playing baseball in Ocala, Florida. He would become an All-State pitcher for Ocala High School. During his three years on the varsity squad, he compiled a 23-3 record, including a perfect 10-0 senior campaign.

After high school, Lowe attended Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida. He finished his career there with an 18-5 record. He earned back-to-back All-Conference and junior college All-America honors and helped lead his team to the Junior College World Series in 1965, his freshman season.

Lowe transferred to Auburn University after his two years at Gulf Coast Community College. In 1966, Lowe signed to play for legendary coach Paul Nix. He fashioned a 23-3 record his two years at Auburn. His final season on “The Plains” saw him notch a sparkling 15-1 record and help Auburn earn a trip to the 1967 NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb. To his day, Lowe still holds two records at Auburn; the career ERA mark at 1.69 and complete games in a season with 10 during his senior campaign.

Following his senior season, Lowe was named the SEC Player-of-the-Year and was named to the NCAA All-America team.

With his collegiate career behind him, Lowe signed to play with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. After eight seasons in the organization, he opted for a career as a baseball coach and landed his first position at Lurleen B. Wallace Junior College in Andalusia, Alabama in 1975. Four years after being named the head coach, Lowe was given the additional duties as the athletic director in 1979.
In Andalusia during the summer months after the college season, Lowe coached in the New York Yankees organization. In 1982, after compiling a 179-101 record at L.B. Wallace, Lowe moved back into the professional ranks as a full-time coach with the Yankees. He then moved into the Montreal Expos organization in 1985, serving as a minor league pitching instructor.

Lowe had the itch to return to the collegiate ranks and was eager for the new opportunity that presented itself at AUM. The lure to start a program from scratch in 1986 was too much to pass up for Lowe. He led the fledgling program from an 8-27 mark in the first season of 1987 to a 40-25 mark and a second place finish at the NAIA World Series in only four seasons. He led the Senators back to the World Series in 1992 and again last season, 2006.

This past season, Lowe joined some elite company. In 2008, he won his 1,000th game as head coach, joining an elite list of coaches on any level to accomplish this feat.

Lowe and his wife Ginger, the former head volleyball coach at Troy University, make their home in Wetumpka. Lowe has one son, Josh, who played for three seasons at AUM.


Ben Cook's New Book Good Wood: A Fan's History of Rickwood Field

			Author Ben Cook’s original title for his newest book was If These Walls Could Talk, which comes close to describing the daunting challenge he undertook in writing Good Wood. Built in Birmingham, Alabama in 1910, Rickwood Field is the oldest baseball park in America. If the walls could indeed talk, we would be captivated by the exploits of baseball’s greatest players, including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams and Birmingham’s own Willie Mays. Ben is a sportswriter by trade. But he is a baseball fan, and a son. Good Wood is a tribute to the ballpark where he learned to love baseball from his father. This is the story of Rickwood Field, a story that continues to this day. You can order your own copy of Good Wood by calling The Friends of Rickwood at 205-458-8161.