A left-handed pitcher born in Vernon, British Columbia, and raised in Penticton, he appeared in 215 games pitched in Major League Baseball over seven seasons (1958–1964) for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Athletics.

In his seven-year big league career, Bowsfield went 37–39 with six saves and a 4.35 earned run average (ERA).

Bowsfield's Red Sox career came to an end on June 13, 1960, when he and Marty Keough were traded to the Cleveland Indians for Russ Nixon and Carroll Hardy.

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.

Leading 5-0 into the bottom of the ninth, Vic Power singled to third registering the first hit of the game against Bowsfield.