Mowrey grew up playing baseball with school and town teams in the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania area.

His father, Jacob Mowrey, was the town's sheriff, and frequently housed homeless people in his jail cell overnight.

Mowrey returned to central Pennsylvania with Williamsport of the independent Tri-State League in 1904, the same year he married Nannie K. Hammel.

His .285 batting average and flashy defensive play at third base so impressed the Cincinnati Reds that they purchased his contract.

Mowrey spent most of 1906 with Baltimore of the Eastern League, which was owned by Cincinnati manager Ned Hanlon.

Returning to regular duty with the Cardinals in 1910, Mowrey enjoyed the best season of his 13-year career, hitting .282, a career-high 70 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.

After the Federal League folded, Wilbert Robinson signed Mowrey for his veteran team in Brooklyn.

That year, he batted .244 in 144 games and his career-best .965 fielding percentage led National League third basemen and the Robins won the pennant.

During World War II, he worked at the Letterkenny Ordnance Depot and coached its baseball team.