Ryan Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Howard |
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Howard with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: November 19, 1979 Florissant, Missouri, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 2004, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2016, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Home runs | 382 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,194 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979), known as "the Big Piece", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the Philadelphia Phillies, from 2004 to 2016. Ryan Howard is famous for being the fastest player in baseball history to reach both 100 and 200 home runs. He also holds many records for the Phillies team.
Howard started his MLB career in 2004. He won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2005. The next year, in 2006, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Howard was chosen for the NL All-Star team three times (2006, 2009, 2010). He also won the Silver Slugger Award and the Hank Aaron Award. In 2009, he was named the NL Championship Series MVP Award.
Known for his amazing hitting power, Howard is part of the 50 home run club. He led the NL in home runs twice (2006, 2008). He was the fastest player to hit 100 home runs (in 2007) and 200 home runs (in 2009). From 2006 to 2009, he hit 198 home runs, with at least 45 each season. By age 30, he had hit 222 home runs in 732 games.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Ryan Howard was born in Florissant, Missouri. He went to Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri. Later, he attended Missouri State University. He played college baseball for the Bears from 1998 to 2001.
Howard finished his college career with 50 home runs. He also had 183 runs batted in (RBIs). His batting average was .335 in 172 games played. In 1999, he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Missouri State honored Howard by retiring his jersey number on December 18, 2010.
Starting His Professional Career
Minor League Journey
The Philadelphia Phillies picked Ryan Howard in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. He started playing for the Batavia Muckdogs. Howard moved up through the Phillies' minor league teams. He won awards in the Florida State League (2003) and Eastern League (2004).
Howard set a record for the Reading Phillies with 37 home runs in 102 games. He was then moved up to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. He became one of only five minor league players since 1956 to hit at least 46 home runs. Howard won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award for his hitting. His jersey number 29 was retired by the Lakewood Blueclaws in 2010.
Joining the Philadelphia Phillies
First Games in 2004
On September 1, 2004, Ryan Howard played his first Major League game. He struck out in his first time at bat. On September 6, he got his first Major League hit. On September 11, Howard hit his first Major League home run. This also brought in his first RBI.
In 2004, Howard played 19 games for the Phillies. He had a .282 batting average. He hit two home runs and had five RBIs. Between his minor league and MLB games, Howard hit 48 home runs in 2004. This was tied for the most in all of organized baseball.
Rookie of the Year Season: 2005
In 2005, Ryan Howard became the Phillies' main first baseman. This happened when Jim Thome was injured. Howard had his first three-hit game on May 15. On August 23, he had his first four-hit game.
Howard was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month in September. He hit .278 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs that month. He led all major league rookies with 22 home runs. He also had a .288 average and 63 RBIs in just 88 games.
Howard won the NL Rookie of the Year award. He was the fourth Phillies player to win this honor. After the 2005 season, the Phillies traded Jim Thome. This made sure Ryan Howard had a permanent spot as the team's first baseman.
MVP Season: 2006
Ryan Howard started the 2006 season as the Phillies' starting first baseman. On April 23, he hit a home run that traveled 496 feet. It was the first time a ball landed in Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park. He hit two home runs in that game. From May 20 to 29, Howard had at least one RBI in nine games in a row.
Howard was chosen for his first All-Star game. He also won the Home Run Derby. He hit 23 home runs in the contest. This made him the second Phillie in a row to win the Derby.
On August 31, Howard hit his 49th home run. This broke Mike Schmidt's Phillies single-season record of 48. On September 3, Howard hit three home runs in one game. He became the first Phillies player and 24th player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in a season. He ended that game with 52 home runs. This also broke Ralph Kiner's record for home runs in a second season.
Howard finished the 2006 season with a .313 batting average. He hit 58 home runs and had 149 RBIs. His 58 home runs were the most by a player in their second season. He also set a Phillies record with 37 intentional walks. Howard won the home run title, the first Phillie to do so since Jim Thome in 2003.
In October, Howard was named the NL Player of the Month for September. He had also won it in August. On November 8, his fellow players voted him Player of the Year. On November 10, he won the National League Silver Slugger Award.
On November 20, Howard won the National League MVP award. He became one of only four players in baseball history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in a row. He also received the Babe Ruth Home Run Award for leading MLB in home runs.
2007 Season Highlights
On June 27, 2007, Ryan Howard hit a 461-foot home run. He became the fastest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 100 home runs. He reached this in only 325 games. This was 60 games faster than the previous record holder, Ralph Kiner.
Howard competed in the 2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby again. However, he only hit three home runs and did not win. On September 27, Howard set a new MLB record. He struck out for the 196th and 197th time in a season. He finished the season with 199 strikeouts.
Howard's final stats for 2007 were a .268 average, 47 home runs, and 136 RBIs. He helped the Phillies win the National League East title. This was their first time in the postseason since 1993.
World Series Win: 2008
Ryan Howard started the 2008 season slowly. But he improved in May, hitting ten home runs and 30 RBIs. On June 13, Howard hit two home runs and had five RBIs. This was in a huge 20–2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals. On June 16, he hit two more home runs.
On August 11, Howard got his 100th RBI of the 2008 season. This was his third year in a row with at least 100 RBIs. He finished the 2008 season with 146 RBIs and a .251 batting average. His efforts helped the Phillies win their division again.
In the 2008 World Series, Howard hit three home runs. Two of these came in Game 4. The Phillies won the series in five games. This brought Philadelphia its first World Series championship since 1980. Howard finished second in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP award. He won his second Babe Ruth Home Run Award for leading MLB with 48 home runs.
2009: More Records and NLCS MVP
On February 8, 2009, Howard signed a 3-year, $54 million contract with the Phillies. In spring training, he led all players with 10 home runs. On May 4, Howard hit his second grand slam of the year. On May 30, he hit his third grand slam of the season. This grand slam was estimated to travel 475 feet. It put Howard ahead of Mike Schmidt for the most grand slams in Phillies history.
Howard was named to the 2009 National League All-Star team. He also competed in the Home Run Derby. On July 16, Howard hit his 200th career home run. He became the fastest player ever to reach this mark, doing it in just 658 games. This beat Ralph Kiner's record of 706 games.
In August, Howard hit 11 home runs and had 33 RBIs. He was named the NL Player of the Month for these achievements. On September 18, Howard hit his 39th and 40th home runs of the season. This was his fourth time hitting 40 or more home runs in a season. Howard ended the season tied for the major league lead in RBIs with 141.
In the 2009 National League Division Series (NLDS), Howard hit a game-tying double. He then scored the winning run. He tied Lou Gehrig's record for the most consecutive postseason games with an RBI. Howard won the NLCS MVP award on October 21. However, he struggled in the 2009 World Series. He struck out a record 13 times in that series.
2010 Season
On April 26, 2010, Howard signed a big 5-year, $125 million contract extension. On August 1, Howard sprained his ankle. He was placed on the disabled list for 15 days. On September 8, Howard hit his 250th home run. He reached this milestone in only 855 games. This made him the quickest player in history to hit 250 home runs, passing Ralph Kiner.
On September 18, Howard hit his 30th home run of the season. This set a Phillies record for five years in a row with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. On defense, he led all first basemen in errors for the third year in a row.
2011 Season and Injury
In 2011, Ryan Howard had a batting average of .253. He hit 33 home runs and had 116 RBIs. This was his sixth year in a row with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. This set a new Phillies team record.
In Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS, Howard was the last batter. He grounded out, and the Phillies lost the series. While running to first base on that play, Howard tore his Achilles tendon. This injury needed surgery. Because of it, he missed the start of the 2012 season.
2012 and 2013: Injuries Continue
Howard started the 2012 season on the disabled list because of his Achilles injury. On July 6, 2012, he played his first game of the season. On September 22, Howard hit his 300th career home run. However, his season ended a week later. He suffered a small fracture in his right big toe. He finished the 2012 season with a .219 batting average, 14 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 71 games.
On July 8, 2013, Howard went on the disabled list again. He had a torn meniscus in his left knee. He had surgery and did not play for the rest of the season. At the time of his injury, he was hitting .266 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs.
2014 and 2015 Seasons
On May 31, 2014, Howard hit a three-run home run. This was his 1,000th career RBI. He became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 1,000 RBIs. He did it in only 1,230 games. In 153 games in 2014, Howard struck out 190 times. He batted .223 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs.
In 2015, Howard batted .229. He led the Phillies with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs. He missed the last three weeks of the season due to a left knee injury.
Final Season with Phillies: 2016
Ryan Howard started the 2016 season slowly. By late May, his batting average was only .161. On June 1, manager Pete Mackanin decided to give rookie Tommy Joseph more playing time at first base. Howard hit his 375th home run on August 16, 2016. In 112 games in 2016, Howard finished with a .196 batting average, 25 home runs, and 59 RBIs. On November 2, the Phillies decided not to keep Howard for the next season. This made him a free agent for the first time.
After the Phillies
On April 6, 2017, Howard signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He played for the Gwinnett Braves. However, he hit only .184 with one home run. He was released by the Braves on May 8.
On August 12, 2017, Howard signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. He played for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 16 games, he batted .192 with 3 home runs. He became a free agent again on November 6.
On September 4, 2018, Ryan Howard announced he was retiring from baseball. He shared his news in an article on The Players' Tribune.
Personal Life and Other Work
Ryan Howard has a twin brother named Corey. He also has an older brother and a sister. He says he is the smallest of the Howard sons. His favorite baseball team when he was growing up was the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryan Howard has a son named Darian Alexander, born in 2001.
Howard graduated from Lafayette High School in 1998. He played the trombone there. While at Missouri State University, he joined the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Howard has worked as a representative for companies like Under Armour and Subway. He was also on the cover of the video game MLB 08: The Show.
Howard appeared as himself on the TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2010. He also appeared on Entourage and the final season of The Office. One character on The Office is named Ryan Howard after him.
Howard married Krystle Campbell, a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, in Maui on December 1, 2012. They are Catholic.
Ryan Howard has written six children's books with his wife, Krystle Howard, and Erwin Madrid. These books are published by Scholastic.
In February 2019, Howard joined ESPN as an analyst for Baseball Tonight. On April 6, 2019, he announced he and his wife were expecting a baby girl.
On March 24, 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Howard to be a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
Major League and Phillies Records
| Record | Total | Season(s) | Surpassing | Date |
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| Home runs by a Phillies batter, single season | 58 | 2006 | Mike Schmidt, 48 (1980) | 49th on August 31, 2006 |
| Home runs in a sophomore season | 58 | 2006 | Ralph Kiner, 51 (1947) | 52nd on September 3, 2006 |
| Intentional walks to a Phillies batter | 37 | 2006 | Jim Thome, 26 (2004) | 27th on September 13, 2006 |
| Fewest games for 100 home runs | 325 | 2004–2007 | Ralph Kiner, 385 (1946–1948) | 100th on June 27, 2007 |
| Home runs in first 1,000 career at-bats | 85 | 2004–2007 | Cecil Fielder, 76 (1985–1990) | 77th on September 24, 2007 |
| Fewest games for 150 home runs | 495 | 2004–2008 | Eddie Mathews, 569 (1952–1955) | 150th on July 2, 2008 |
| Strikeouts by a Phillies batter | 199 | 2008 | tied himself (2007) | 199th on September 27, 2008 |
| Career grand slams by a Phillies batter | 15 | 2004–2016 | Mike Schmidt, 7 (1972–1989) | 8th on May 30, 2009 |
| Fewest games for 200 home runs | 658 | 2004–2009 | Ralph Kiner, 706 (1946–1950) | 200th on July 16, 2009 |
| At least one RBI in consecutive postseason games in the same year | 7 | 2009 | Iván Rodríguez (2003) Bernie Williams (1999) (6 all) Carlton Fisk (1975) |
October 18, 2009 |
| At least one RBI in consecutive postseason games | 8 | 2009 | tied, Lou Gehrig (1928 and 1932) | October 19, 2009 |
| Most strikeouts in a World Series | 13 | 2009 | Willie Wilson, 12 (1980) | November 4, 2009 |
| Most career home runs by a player whose last name begins with H | 382 | 2004-2016 | tied, Frank Howard | 382nd on September 30, 2016 |
| Most career Golden sombreros – games with at least four strikeouts | 27 | 2006–2015 | Reggie Jackson, 23 | 24th on May 29, 2014 |
Howard was on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. He did not receive enough votes to be included in the Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Howard as a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
See also
In Spanish: Ryan Howard para niños
- List of Major League Baseball home run records
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- 50 home run club
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
