Ken Howell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Howell |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: November 28, 1960 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died: November 9, 2018 (aged 57) West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 25, 1984, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 5, 1990, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 38–48 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.95 | ||
| Strikeouts | 549 | ||
| Saves | 31 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Ken Howell (born November 28, 1960, died November 9, 2018) was an American baseball player. He was a pitcher and later a pitching coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies from 1984 to 1990. Ken was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds. He batted and threw with his right hand.
Ken went to Northwestern High School (Michigan) in Detroit. He then studied at the Tuskegee Institute, finishing in 1982. In 1981, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers. The Dodgers chose him in the 3rd round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.
He played his first MLB game on June 25, 1984, at Dodger Stadium. Ken pitched a great ninth inning in that game. His only time playing in the baseball postseason was in 1985. He pitched in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ken's last big league game was on August 5, 1990. After playing, Howell became a coach for the Dodgers. Ken had diabetes. He passed away on November 9, 2018, at age 57.
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Ken Howell's Baseball Career
Ken Howell was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1982 MLB Draft. This was after he played college baseball at Tuskegee University. He made his first Major League appearance for the Dodgers on June 25, 1984. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the San Diego Padres.
Early Years with the Dodgers
His first game as a starting pitcher was on July 3, 1984. He pitched well but his team lost. Ken got his first career win on July 6, 1984, against the St. Louis Cardinals. That season, he had 5 wins and 5 losses. He also had a good ERA of 3.33. Ken saved 6 games for the Dodgers that year. He stayed with the Dodgers until the 1988 season. During this time, he had 18 wins and 29 losses. He also earned 31 saves.
Moving to the Phillies
In December 1988, Ken was part of two trades. First, he went to the Baltimore Orioles from the Dodgers. Then, just five days later, he was traded again. He moved from the Orioles to the Philadelphia Phillies. This trade helped the Phillies get a good starting pitcher.
With the Phillies in 1989, Ken pitched in 33 games. He started 32 of those games. He had a strong record of 12 wins and 12 losses. His ERA was 3.44 that season. In 1990, he started 18 games. He had 8 wins and 7 losses.
Injuries and Retirement
Injuries caused Ken to miss most of the 1990 season. He also missed nearly all of 1991 and 1992. He only played in 6 games in 1991. He did not play at all in 1992. Ken tried to make a comeback in 1993. He played for the Texas Rangers minor league team. However, he was released after only a few games. He then played one more year in 1994 for an independent team. After that, he retired from playing baseball.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Ken Howell became a baseball coach. He returned to the Dodgers organization in 2003. He started as a pitching coach for a Class-A team. He then moved up to coach for Double-A and Triple-A teams.
In 2008, Ken joined the Dodgers' main Major League coaching staff. He became the bullpen coach. A bullpen coach helps the relief pitchers get ready to play. He held this job until 2012. From 2012 to 2015, he was the Assistant Pitching Coach for the Dodgers.
Ken Howell's Health and Family
On February 6, 2015, Ken Howell was taken to the hospital. He was having problems with his kidneys. Doctors later found he had other serious health issues. Ken had several surgeries. He later told the media that he was feeling much better.
Ken Howell passed away on November 9, 2018.
