Hondo and Killebrew :-)
Posted on 10/30/2023 2:52:12 PM PDT by DFG
Frank Howard, the beloved Washington Senators slugger and four-time All-Star, has passed away at 87.
Howard's death was announced by the Washington Nationals – a club he never technically played for, but which honored him with a statue outside its stadium, nonetheless.
'We are deeply saddened to share that Washington Senators legend Frank Howard has passed away at the age of 87,' read the club statement. 'We join Frank's loved ones in mourning.'
A native of Columbus, Howard was a two-sport star at Ohio State, where he played both baseball and basketball.
In fact, he proved so skilled at the latter, that the lumbering 6-foot-7, 255-pound Howard was drafted by the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors in 1957.
Instead, Howard signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom he'd win the 1960 National League Rookie of the Year award, while hitting 23 home runs.
Howard was then traded to the second iteration of the Senators - which replaced the original Senator team - in 1964.
When the Senators became the Texas Rangers in 1972, the outfielder/first baseman was among the players to make the move. He was the oldest living member of that expansion team at the time of his death, according to the Rangers.
'Frank Howard was a bigger-than-life personality who was very popular with his teammates and the fans in Washington and Texas,' the Rangers said in a statement.
'The Rangers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Howard's family and friends. He will be greatly missed.'
The 6-foot-7 Howard hit 237 of his home runs over his seven-year stint with the Senators; only Ryan Zimmerman hit more for a Washington-based team.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Go Hondo !!!
Looks like he did a couple years in Detroit. I vaguely remember the name. RIP.
I saw Frank Howard playing with the Dodgers in 1963 and with the Senators in 1968. No mistaking who he was.
Saw him play in DC a couple times.
Rangers better win tonight for Frank!
I remember many of his homers at DC Stadium. They would paint the seats white where the ball landed. Upper deck in center field was where most of them ended up. One week he hit ten homers. I think that’s a record.
I remember him hitting a mammoth home run in an All-star game over an analog clock on the scoreboard.
Awesome hitter who had his best years, like Willie Mccovey, in the pitcher dominated late 60’s.
Harmon Killebrew, in MLB around the same time, always looked bigger than he was, except when on the field with Frank Howard. Howard made Killebrew look like a small shortstop. Howard was noticeably bigger than even Boog Powell.
RIP
I had his bat
one of only 5 players to ever hit it out of Tiger Stadiums Left Field roof...over 20 did the Right Field roof, but Left Field took quite a shot to do..
*OVER*
Six seven 280
Big soambeach
I used to roll up my short-sleeve t-shirt sleeves to try and look like him. Arm muscles were big.
Hondo and Killebrew :-)
Wow! Nice find!
Today? The presence does not seem to be there as previous to the 70's or so.
When Frank Howard really hit one, it stayed hit. Man had some ferocious power. RIP big guy.
Condollences to family and friends of Frank Howard.
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