Rod Bovee practically re-wrote the Pacific pitching record book during his four years with the Tigers from 1971-74. A strong left-hander with an exceptional fastball and curveball, Bovee earned a pair of All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association selections during his four seasons as a starter. He also set 14 program pitching records during his tenure, including career marks for victories, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts, complete games and earned run average.
Bovee had perhaps his finest season as a Tiger as a junior in 1973. He notched an 8-4 won-lost record that year, but more impressively recorded a 1.53 ERA with school-record totals at that time with 149 strikeouts, 123 innings pitched and 11 complete games. During one stretch of the season, he pitched three consecutive shutouts and went 31 straight innings without allowing a run. In addition to earning All-PCAA honors, he was awarded All-District 8 recognition his junior season.
Bovee closed out his career at Pacific at or near the top of every pitching category in the Pacific baseball record book. Even more impressive than his record-setting career, however, has been the longevity of the records he set. Many of Bovee's records lasted well more than 20 years, until the emergence of Dan Reichert in the 1990s. Bovee, however, continues to hold the Pacific career records for strikeouts and shutouts. In addition, he continues to rank second in career wins, third in career innings pitched, second in single season ERAÂ and third in single season strikeouts.
Bovee's record-setting career with the Tigers led to a 15th round selection by the San Diego Padres in the 1974 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, and he went on to play three seasons in the Padres' minor league system.
Following his professional baseball career, Bovee worked in banking for 20 years with American Savings and Union Safe Deposit Bank in Stockton. Since 2001, he has worked for Bennett Development in Lodi, Calif., as Director of Acquisitions. Bovee currently resides in Stockton with his wife, Kellie, his daughters Jennifer and Natalie, and his son, Connor Matthew.
