He returned to the Tigers in 1933, became part of Detroit's "Battalion of Death" infield, and remained the team's starting third baseman from 1933 to 1937.

Owen was born in Agnew, California (now part of Santa Clara), and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory.

[5] Tigers manager Bucky Harris rated Owen as "the greatest prospect the American League has seen in many years.

He was part of an infield that became known as the "Battalion of Death" consisting of Hank Greenberg at first, Charlie Gehringer at second, Billy Rogell at shortstop, and Owen at third.

The Battalion of Death remained intact from 1933 to 1935 (until injury sidelined Greenberg in 1936) and was considered one of the best infield combinations in baseball history.

Three members of the 1934 infield finished in the top ten in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player award – Gehringer second, Greenberg sixth and Owen ninth.

"[11] The 1934 Tigers won the American League pennant with a 101–53 record but lost the 1934 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In Game 7 of the World Series at Navin Field, Joe Medwick of the Cardinals tripled in the sixth inning and knocked Owen down with a hard slide at third.

"[12] The two players fought, and, when Medwick returned to left field in the bottom of the inning, the Detroit spectators began pelting him with fruit, bottles, and other debris.

Sports writer Paul Gallico described the fans as "a deadly and vicious mob" and added: "The next moment the air was full of flying fruit, apples, oranges, bananas and beer and pop bottles .

"[12]Eventually, and to prevent a full riot, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis ordered Medwick removed from the game.

Despite the injuries, he continued to contribute defensively, ranking third among the American League's third basemen with 19 double plays and a .958 fielding percentage.

[1] He helped the Tigers win their second consecutive American League pennant, but his batting average dropped by 54 points to .263.

[16] During the 1938 season, Owen appeared in 141 games for the White Sox, 139 as the starting third baseman, and compiled a .287 batting average with 35 extra base hits and 55 RBIs.

[17] Owen concluded his major league career appearing in 20 games for the Boston Red Sox during the 1940 season.

[4] In December 1946, Owen signed to manage the San Jose Red Sox in the California State League.

[13] Owen died in 1991 at age 85 at a nursing home in Mountain View, California, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease.