Frank Howard
In Los Angeles, where he had to fight for playing time in a crowded outfield, Frank Howard was known as "Hondo" and won a World Series. In Washington he blasted tape-measure home runs for the Senators and stood out like a giant compared to his smaller (and lesser talented) teammates, who called him "The Capital Punisher." A powerful right-handed slugger of Paul Bunyon-like build, Howard won two home run titles and was the best player in Senators' expansion history. He later managed in the big leagues with little success.
Quotes From Howard
"How can you wheel that lumber tomorrow if you don't pound that Budweiser tonight?" — quoted as saying to his players, from columnist Tom Boswell. Thanks to SABR member David Paulson.
Played For
Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1964)
Washington Senators (1965-1971)
Texas Rangers (1972)
Detroit Tigers (1972-1973)
Managed
San Diego Padres (1981)
New York Mets (1983)
All-Time Rankings
Frank Howard ranks #23 among the Top 50 all-time at LF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1969
Howard led the AL in just one category (total bases), but he was near the top in several others: eighth in batting (.296), sixth in OBP (.402), fourth in slugging (.574) and OPS, fourth in games played, hits (175) and walks (102), second in runs scored (111) and homers (48), and fifth in RBI (111). He excelled at RFK Stadium in Washington, batting .303 with 27 homers, 62 RBI, and a .607 slugging mark in 81 games. He belted 11 homers in July, when he batted .354 with a .707 slugging percentage.
Factoids
Frank Howard tied a major-league record on July 9, 1965, when he struck out seven times in Washington's doubleheader with Boston.
Cup of Saki
Unable to latch on with a team in the majors, in 1974 Howard signed to play in the Japan League for Taiheiyo. In his first time at bat for his Japanese team, Howard swung mightily and struck out. More embarrassing was the fact that he tore something in his back on the swing. He never played another game in Japan.
"Name That Slugger"
If you watch the Game Show network or live somewhere where old game shows still find their way onto broadcast TV, you may catch a glimpse of big Frank Howard on "Name That Tune." The show debuted in 1974 and ran for seven years. Howard's wife was a contestant, and if you see the episode, you'll notice Howard in the front row, calmly encouraging his better half.
Most Home Runs, MLB (1962-1971)
Aaron... 386
Killebrew... 386
Mays... 327
McCovey... 326
Howard... 320
Highest Slugging Pct, MLB (1962-1971)
Aaron... .572
McCovey... .557
Mays... .545
F. Robinson... .543
D. Allen... .543
Killebrew... .533
Stargell... .518
Howard... .511
Most Times Walked Intentionally with No One on Base
This list encompasses the era in which intentional walk data has been recorded (through 2005).
Barry Bonds... 36
Frank Howard... 8
Mark McGwire... 7
Willie McCovey... 5
Harmon Killebrew... 3
Where He Played
Left field (923), right field (530), first base (334), designated hitter (76). Howard started as a right fielder, joining Wally Moon and Tommy Davis in the LA outfield, then he was switched to left by the Senators. who also used him periodically at first base. In 1973, Howard was the primary DH for the Detroit Tigers.
Born
Frank Oliver Howard was born on August 8, 1936, in Columbus, OH.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: WS2
Major League Debut
September 10, 1958
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1958
Vada Pinson
Ron Fairly
Tony Taylor
Orlando Cepeda
Norm Cash
Felipe Alou
Mudcat Grant
Frank Howard
Jerry Adair
Nicknames
Hondo, Capital Punisher
Uniform Numbers
#25 (1958-1964), #9 (1965-1968), #33 (1969-1973)
Similar Players
Joe Adcock, Greg Luzinski, Richie Sexson
Related Players
Barry Bonds, Shawn Green (both also hit at least eight homers in a six-game stretch)... Harmon Killebrew and Cecil Fielder (the other two players to hit home runs over the left field roof in Tiger Stadium).
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1979 |
BBWAA |
6 |
1.4% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1963 World Series
Awards and Honors
1960 NL Rookie of the Year
Milestones
On May 6, 1970, Howard hit his 300th career home run, a solo blast off the Angels' Rudy May in Anaheim Stadium.
Notes
Howard beat out Pancho Herrera to win the 1960 NL ROY award. Teammate Tommy Davis and Chicago's Ron Santo also received votes.
Transactions
Before 1958 Season: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent; December 4, 1964: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a player to be named later, Ken McMullen, Phil Ortega, and Pete Richert to the Washington Senators for Claude Osteen, John Kennedy, and $100000 cash. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Dick Nen (December 15, 1964) to the Washington Senators to complete the trade; August 31, 1972: Purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the Texas Rangers; October 25, 1973: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
On December 4, 1964, the Dodgers traded Howard to the Senators, along with pitchers Pete Richert and Phil Ortega, and infielder Ken McMullen, for pitcher Claude Osteen, John Kennedy and some cash. Most folks probably know that Osteen won 147 games for LA after the trade, helping them to two World Series. Kennedy served as a utility infielder for two years, hit terribly, and was gone. Meanwhile, Howard hit 246 homers for the Senators/Rangers, leading the AL twice in that category. Howard also paced the league in slugging, total bases, RBI and extra-base hits while in his new uniform. Richert was pretty good while he lasted in the Capital: winning 15 and 14 games in his two full seasons before earning a trip to Baltimore where Earl Weaver used him from the bullpen on three straight pennant-winners. McMullen was the sleeper in this deal, the forgotten man. For the last five years of the 1960s he was at the steep incline that followed Brooks Robinson as the second best third baseman in the AL. But a closer look reveals that he wasn't that bad a player, even compared to Brooksie. During those five years (1965-1969), Robinson created approximately 408 runs. McMullen created 341. That's a 14-run advantage per year for Robinson. But McMullen used 140 fewer outs to create his runs. That's about one offensive game per year, and it narrows the gap. How much, I'm not sure, but McMullen was a decent third baseman, easily one of the two best in the league during that era. His contribution to those terrible Senators' teams swings the Osteen-for-Howard deal closer in favor of Washington.
Home Run Facts
From Sunday, May 12, through Saturday, May 18, 1968, Howard belted 10 home runs in the span of 20 at-bats, over six games. He hit at least one homer in six straight games, tying a record, and also clubbed two homers in four games, twice in back-to-back games.
Matchup Data
Howard enjoyed tremendous success against left-hander Sam McDowell. In 68 at-bats, he hit five homers and hit .368, with a .706 SLG mark and 25 walks.
All-Star Selections
1968 AL
1969 AL
1970 AL
1971 AL
Replaced
Duke Snider. Howard then beat out fellow young prospect Ron Fairly for the right field job. Fairly ended up having a long career, mostly as a first baseman.
Replaced By
The 1972 Rangers realized that Howard was a bit long in the tooth, and that he was incapable of patrolling left field. They also had a stable of young outfielders who they wanted to get into the lineup, including Tom Grieve, Larry Biittner and Jeff Burroughs.
Best Strength as a Player
Intimidation
Largest Weakness as a Player
Consistency
Learn More about Frank Howard
Search Amazon.com for Books about Frank Howard ⇒
Search for Frank Howard at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
