Wilbur Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilbur Howard |
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Howard in 1976
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 8, 1949 Lowell, North Carolina |
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| debut | |||
| September 4, 1973, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 1978, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 71 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Wilbur Leon Howard was a talented American baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on January 8, 1949, Wilbur played for two teams during his six-year career. He was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973 and then the Houston Astros from 1974 to 1978.
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Wilbur Howard's Early Baseball Days
Wilbur Howard started his journey in professional baseball in 1969. He was chosen by the Seattle Pilots in the 19th round of the MLB Draft. The Seattle Pilots team later moved and became the Milwaukee Brewers.
Joining the Brewers
Wilbur spent four years playing in the Brewers' minor league system. This is where players develop their skills before joining the main team. In September 1973, he got his first chance to play in the big leagues. He played in 39 games that year.
Moving to the Houston Astros
After the 1973 season, Wilbur Howard was traded to the Houston Astros. This trade happened in the spring of 1974. He joined the Astros, where he would play for the next five seasons.
Playing for the Houston Astros
Wilbur started the 1974 season in the minor leagues again. But by mid-June, he was called up to the Astros' main team. He became the team's fourth outfielder. This means he was ready to play when other outfielders needed a rest or if there was an injury.
A Strong 1975 Season
In 1975, Wilbur continued in his role as the fourth outfielder. However, he played in many games that year, a total of 121. He had a great season, hitting for a .283 batting average. He also showed off his speed by stealing 32 bases. This was the second-highest number of stolen bases on the team!
Final Years in Baseball
From 1976 to 1978, Wilbur Howard continued to be a valuable fourth outfielder for the Astros. He was always ready to step in and help his team. After the 1978 season, he spent one more year in the minor leagues in 1979. After that, Wilbur decided to retire from playing professional baseball.
