Elston Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elston Howard |
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| Catcher / Left fielder | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: February 23, 1929 St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Died: December 14, 1980 (aged 51) New York City, New York |
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| Professional debut | |||||||||||||||||
| NgL: 1948, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||||||||||||||||
| MLB: April 14, 1955, for the New York Yankees | |||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||||||
| September 29, 1968, for the Boston Red Sox | |||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .274 | ||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 167 | ||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 762 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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Elston Gene Howard (February 23, 1929 – December 14, 1980) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher and a left fielder. During his 14-year career, he played in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1948 to 1968. He is best known for his time with the New York Yankees.
Elston Howard was a 12-time All-Star. He also played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Boston Red Sox. After retiring as a player, Howard joined the Yankees' coaching staff from 1969 to 1979.
In 1955, Elston Howard became the first African American player on the New York Yankees team. This was eight years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947. Howard was named the American League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1963. He was the first Black player in the American League to win this award. He also won two Gold Glove Awards in 1963 and 1964 for his excellent fielding.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Elston Howard was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents were Travis Howard and Emaline Hill. When he was six, his parents divorced, and his mother remarried. Howard was a great athlete at Vashon High School.
Starting His Professional Career
In 1948, when he was 19, Howard chose to play professional baseball instead of accepting college football scholarships. He signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. He earned $500 a month playing as an outfielder for three seasons. In 1950, he shared a room with future baseball star Ernie Banks.
The Yankees signed Howard on July 19, 1950. He was sent to the Muskegon Clippers, a Yankees' farm team. Howard then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, missing the 1951 and 1952 seasons.
Becoming a Catcher
In 1953, Howard played for the Kansas City Blues. The next year, the Yankees invited him to spring training. They decided to train him as a catcher, even though Yogi Berra was already their star catcher.
In 1954, Howard played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had a great year, leading the league in triples with 16. He also hit 22 home runs, had 109 runs batted in (RBIs), and a .330 batting average. He won the league's MVP award. The Yankees assigned legendary catcher Bill Dickey to help Howard improve his catching skills.
Major League Baseball Career
Howard joined the Yankees' main roster at the start of the 1955 season. On April 14, 1955, he made his MLB debut as a left fielder. He got a single in his first time at bat. He made history as the first African American player for the Yankees.
Howard played as a backup catcher and sometimes in the outfield. He hit .290 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 97 games.
World Series Appearances
In the 1955 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Howard hit a home run in his first at-bat. The Yankees won that game, but lost the Series. In the 1956 World Series, he hit another solo home run in Game 7, helping the Yankees win the championship.
Howard played in many World Series with the Yankees. In the 1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves, he made key plays. He threw out a runner at home plate and had an RBI single in Game 7. The Yankees won the Series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit. Howard was given the Babe Ruth Award for his great performance in the Series.
By 1959, Howard often played first base to get more playing time. He was first chosen for the All-Star team in 1957. He went on to be selected for nine straight years until 1965.
Taking Over as Catcher
In 1960, Howard became the main catcher for the Yankees, taking over from Yogi Berra. In the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Howard hit a two-run pinch-hit homer. However, the Yankees lost the Series in a close Game 7.
In 1961, Howard had his best batting average at .348. He also hit over 20 home runs for the first time. This was the year Roger Maris hit his record 61 home runs. Howard finished tenth in the MVP voting. The Yankees won the 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
In 1962, he had a career-best 91 RBIs and again hit over 20 home runs. The Yankees won the 1962 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.
MVP Season and Gold Gloves
In 1963, Howard had an amazing season. He batted .287 with 28 home runs and 85 RBIs. He won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. He was named the American League MVP, becoming the first Black player to win this award. The Yankees were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1963 World Series.
In 1964, he batted .313 and won another Gold Glove. He set new American League records for putouts and total chances as a catcher. He also led the AL in fielding average with a .998 mark. Howard played in his ninth 1964 World Series in ten years, but the Yankees lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Later Career with the Red Sox
In 1967, Howard was traded to the Boston Red Sox. Even though his batting average was lower, he was very good at working with the pitchers. His teammate Tony Conigliaro said pitchers had great respect for him.
One of Howard's most famous plays with the Red Sox happened on August 27, 1967. In a close game against the Chicago White Sox, Howard made a game-ending play at home plate. He caught a throw from the outfield and tagged out a runner, saving the win for the Red Sox. This play was a key moment in their "Impossible Dream" season.
Howard played in the 1967 World Series against the Cardinals. He had a key two-run single in Game 5, helping the Red Sox win. However, St. Louis won the Series in seven games. This was the sixth World Series loss for Howard's teams. He and Pee Wee Reese hold the record for playing on the most losing World Series teams.
Howard was released by the Red Sox in October 1968. Over his 14-year career, he batted .274 with 167 home runs, 1,471 hits, and 762 RBIs. His fielding percentage as a catcher was .993, which was excellent. He also played in the outfield and at first base. Howard played in 54 World Series games, a record for catchers. He is also known for inventing the batting "doughnut". This is a weighted ring batters put on their bat to make it feel lighter when they swing.
Life After Playing
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| Elston Howard's number 32 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1984. |
After retiring as a player, Elston Howard returned to the Yankees as a first-base coach from 1969 to 1979. He was the first Black coach in the American League. The Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978 while he was a coach.
Howard later became an administrative assistant for the Yankees. Sadly, his health declined due to a rare heart disease called myocarditis. Elston Howard passed away at age 51 on December 14, 1980. He was buried in Paramus, New Jersey.
Red Smith, a famous sportswriter, wrote that the Yankees lost "more class" when Howard died.
Legacy and Honors
To honor Elston Howard, the Yankees wore black armbands during the 1981 season. On July 21, 1984, the Yankees retired his uniform number 32. They also placed a plaque in his honor in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. His plaque describes him as "A man of great gentleness and dignity" and "one of the truly great Yankees."
Howard is famous for inventing the "baseball doughnut." This is a heavy ring that batters slide onto their bat while waiting to hit. It makes the bat feel lighter when they remove it, helping them swing faster.
In 2020, the baseball field at the old Yankee Stadium site was named in Elston Howard's honor. This field is right across the street from the new Yankee Stadium.
Elston Howard has also been portrayed in movies and plays. Bobby Hosea played him in the 2001 film 61*. He was also a character in the 2014 Broadway play Bronx Bombers.
See also
- List of first black Major League Baseball players
- List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball
- List of New York Yankees coaches
