Ted Bowsfield debuted with the Boston Red Sox on July 20,. That season he went 4–2 with a 3.84 ERA in 16 games, 10 of which were starts. Three of Bowsfield's wins as a rookie came against the New York Yankees. Yankee Manager Casey Stengel described Bowsfield as "that fella that throws them ground balls." Although he had some success in, he struggled the following season by going 0–1 with a 15.00 ERA in five games, two of which were starts. In nine innings of work in, Bowsfield yielded 15 earned runs on 16 hits and nine walks. Working primarily out of the bullpen, he rebounded a bit in, going 1–2 with a 5.14 ERA in 17 games, including a pair of starts.
Bowsfield's Red Sox career came to an end on June 13,, when he and Marty Keough were traded to the Cleveland Indians for Russ Nixon and Carroll Hardy. Working out of the bullpen and in the starting rotation, Bowsfield went 3–4 with a 5.09 ERA in 11 outings, six of which were starts.
As the expansion Los Angeles Angels filled its roster through the 1961 MLB expansion draft, the new organization turned to the Indians' Bowfield as a key member of its pitching staff. At age 26, Bowsfield had the best season of his career in the Angels' inaugural season. He posted a record of 11–8 with a 3.73 ERA in 41 games, including 21 starts. Bowsfield put together another winning record in, going 9–8 with a 4.40 ERA in 34 games, 25 of which were starts, for the Angels.
After the most successful seasons of his career, Bowsfield was sent to the Kansas City Athletics to complete a July 21 trade for Dan Osinski. In his two seasons with the A's, he worked primarily out of the bullpen, although he would make 20 starts during his time in Kansas City. Bowsfield went 5–7 with three saves and a 4.45 ERA in 41 games, 11 of which were starts, during the season. In, he posted a 4–7 record with a 4.10 ERA in 50 games, including nine starts.
Career overview
In his seven-year big league career, Bowsfield went 37–39 with six saves and a 4.35 ERA. Of his 215 career appearances, 86 were starts, 12 of which were complete games, including four shutouts. He was briefly a member of the Angels' front office after his playing career came to an end.
