Ryan Howard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Howard
Howard with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015
First baseman
Born: (1979-11-19) November 19, 1979 (age 46) Florissant, Missouri, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
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
Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2016)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star (2006, 2009, 2010) World Series champion (2008) NL MVP (2006) NL Rookie of the Year (2005) NLCS MVP (2009) Silver Slugger Award (2006) NL Hank Aaron Award (2006) 2× MLB home run leader (2006, 2008) 3× MLB RBI leader (2006, 2008, 2009)

Ryan James Howard, often called "the Big Piece," is a famous American former professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies for his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career, from 2004 to 2016. He is famous for hitting home runs very quickly. Ryan Howard was 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 playing in MLB in 2004. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2005. The next year, in 2006, he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for the National League. He was chosen as an All-Star three times. He also won other important awards like the Silver Slugger Award. Ryan Howard was known for his incredible power at the plate. He led the league in home runs twice and is part of the special 50 home run club.

Early Baseball Days

Ryan Howard was born in Florissant, Missouri. He went to Lafayette High School. Later, he played college baseball for the Missouri State Bears from 1998 to 2001. During his college career, he hit 50 home runs and had 183 runs batted in (RBIs). His batting average was .335. In 1999, he was named the Freshman of the Year for his conference. Missouri State honored him by retiring his jersey number in 2010. He also played in a summer league to help young players get better.

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Philadelphia Phillies picked Ryan Howard in the 2001 baseball draft. He started playing in the minor leagues for teams like the Batavia Muckdogs. Ryan quickly moved up through the Phillies' minor league teams. He won awards in different leagues in 2003 and 2004. He even set a team record for home runs with 37 for the Reading Phillies.

By July 2004, he was playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, a top minor league team. He hit 46 home runs that year, which was a huge achievement for a minor league player. Many baseball scouts were very impressed with his skills. His jersey number 29 was retired by the Lakewood Blueclaws in 2010.

First Games in the Major Leagues (2004)

Ryan Howard got his first chance to play in the Major Leagues in September 2004. This is called a "September call-up." On September 1, he had his first turn at bat. A few days later, he got his first hit. On September 11, he hit his very first Major League home run. This also brought in his first RBI and he scored his first run.

In 2004, Ryan played in 19 games for the Phillies. He had a .282 batting average, with two home runs and five RBIs. That year, between his minor league and major league games, he hit a total of 48 home runs. This was one of the highest totals in all of baseball.

Rookie of the Year Season (2005)

In 2005, Ryan Howard became the Phillies' main first baseman in July. This happened when another great player, Jim Thome, got injured. Ryan quickly showed how good he was. He had games where he got three or even four hits. He also had games where he brought in three runs.

He was named the National League Rookie of the Month in September. Ryan led all new players in the Major Leagues with 22 home runs. He also had a .288 batting average and 63 RBIs in only 88 games. For his amazing performance, Ryan Howard won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was the fourth Phillies player to ever win this special award. After this season, the Phillies decided to trade Jim Thome. This made sure Ryan Howard had a permanent spot as the team's first baseman.

MVP Season and Home Run Records (2006)

Ryan Howard's batting stance before hitting the ball.

Ryan Howard started the 2006 season as the Phillies' starting first baseman. He hit his first home run of the season in April. Later, he hit a massive home run into Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park. This ball traveled about 496 feet! He also hit a home run into the third deck of the park. The Phillies even painted a white "H" on the seat where the ball landed.

Ryan was chosen for his first All-Star game. Before the game, he competed in the Home Run Derby. He won the contest by hitting 23 home runs, beating David Wright. This made him the second Phillie in a row to win the Derby.

In August, Ryan tied Mike Schmidt's record for the most home runs in a single Phillies season. Just two days later, he broke that record by hitting his 49th home run. On September 3, Ryan made history again. He hit three home runs in one game, reaching 50 home runs in a season. He was the first Phillie and only the 24th player in MLB history to do this. He also broke a record for most home runs in a player's second season.

Ryan finished the 2006 season with a .313 batting average, 58 home runs, and 149 RBIs. He also set a Phillies record for intentional walks. He was named the National League MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. He was one of only four players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in back-to-back seasons.

Continuing to Break Records (2007)

In 2007, Ryan Howard continued to show his power. On June 27, he hit a 461-foot home run. This made him the fastest player in MLB history to reach 100 career home runs. He achieved this in only 325 games, much faster than the previous record holder.

He was invited to the 2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby again to defend his title. However, he only hit three home runs and did not win that year. Ryan finished the 2007 season with 47 home runs and 136 RBIs. He helped the Phillies win their division title. This was the team's first time in the postseason since 1993.

World Series Champions (2008)

Ryan Howard swinging at a pitch during a game.

Ryan Howard started the 2008 season slowly. But he quickly improved, hitting ten home runs in May. He and teammate Chase Utley became the first pair of Phillies to each hit 15 home runs before June. Ryan hit his 100th RBI of the season in August. This was his third year in a row with at least 100 RBIs.

Ryan finished the 2008 season with 146 RBIs and 48 home runs. His strong play helped the Phillies win their division again. In the 2008 World Series, Ryan hit three home runs. Two of these came in Game 4, where he also brought in five runs. The Phillies won the series in five games. This was the team's first World Series championship since 1980! Ryan finished second in the voting for the NL MVP award that year.

More Milestones and Awards (2009)

Barack Obama talks with Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

In 2009, Ryan Howard signed a new contract with the Phillies. He hit two grand slams early in the season. One of these was his eighth career grand slam, setting a new Phillies franchise record. He was again named to the National League All-Star team. He also took part in the Home Run Derby.

On July 16, Ryan hit his 200th career home run. He reached this milestone in only 658 games. This made him the fastest player ever to hit 200 home runs. He beat the previous record holder, Ralph Kiner. Ryan had another great season, hitting 45 home runs and 141 RBIs. He tied for the most RBIs in Major League Baseball that year.

In the postseason, Ryan played a key role. He won the NLCS MVP award for his excellent performance.

Consistent Power Hitting (2010)

In 2010, Ryan Howard signed a big contract extension with the Phillies. On September 8, he hit his 250th home run. He reached this milestone in only 855 games, making him the quickest player in history to do so.

On September 18, Ryan hit his 30th home run of the season. This set a new team record for five years in a row with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. He was recognized as one of the few active players who might be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Injuries and Return (2011-2013)

Ryan Howard at bat during a Phillies game.

In 2011, Ryan Howard had another strong season. He hit 33 home runs and had 116 RBIs. This was his sixth straight season with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, a Phillies record. However, in the last game of the 2011 NLDS, Ryan tore his Achilles tendon. This injury required surgery and caused him to miss the start of the 2012 season.

He returned to play in July 2012. On September 22, he hit his 300th career home run. Unfortunately, his season ended a week later due to a small fracture in his toe. In 2013, Ryan faced another injury. He tore a meniscus in his left knee and missed the rest of the season after surgery.

Later Years with the Phillies (2014-2016)

Ryan Howard worked hard to come back from his injuries. In 2014, he hit his 1,000th career RBI. He achieved this in only 1,230 games, making him the fastest player in MLB history to reach 1,000 RBIs. He finished the 2014 season with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs.

In 2015, Ryan continued to hit home runs, with 23 for the season. He missed the last few weeks due to a knee injury. By 2016, younger players were joining the team. Ryan hit his 375th home run in August. He finished his last season with the Phillies with 25 home runs and 59 RBIs. In November 2016, the Phillies decided not to renew his contract, and he became a free agent.

After the Phillies

In 2017, Ryan Howard signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He played for their Triple-A team, the Gwinnett Braves. However, he was released in May. Later that year, he signed with the Colorado Rockies and played for their Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes. He played 16 games before becoming a free agent again.

On September 4, 2018, Ryan Howard officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Coaching in Banana Ball (2025)

In October 2025, Ryan Howard was named the "primetime coach" for the new Indianapolis Clowns team. This team is part of the exciting Banana Ball Championship League. The Clowns team honors the historic Indianapolis Clowns from Negro league baseball.

Personal Life and Other Work

Ryan Howard as a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

Ryan Howard has a twin brother named Corey, an older brother, and a sister. He grew up as a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryan has a son, born in 2001.

He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1998. He also played the trombone! While at Missouri State University, he joined the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Ryan has worked as a representative for brands like Under Armour and Subway. He was also featured on the cover of the video game MLB 08: The Show.

Ryan appeared as himself on TV shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Entourage. He also appeared in the final season of The Office. One character on The Office is even named Ryan Howard, inspired by the baseball player!

Ryan married Krystle Campbell, a former cheerleader, in December 2012. They are both Catholic.

In May 2017, Ryan became a partner at SeventySix Capital. This is a company that invests in new businesses. Ryan has also written six children's books with his wife, Krystle Howard, and Erwin Madrid. These books are published by Scholastic.

In February 2019, Ryan joined ESPN as an analyst for Baseball Tonight. He helps explain baseball games and news. On March 24, 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Ryan Howard to be a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

Major League and Franchise Records

Howard was included on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2022. He received 8 votes and did not get enough votes to appear on future ballots.

Images for kids

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  Ryan Howard injured his ankle on August 1, 2010.

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  Ryan Howard holding Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty in 2016.

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