Frank Howard was a power hitting slugger who hit 382 home runs over the course of his MLB career playing for the Washington Senators and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Towering at 6-feet 7-inches tall, Howard played basketball and baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes, making All-American in both sports. He was drafted by the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors in 1958 to play basketball, but instead opted for baseball, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was promoted to the major league club in 1960, slugging 23 home runs and 77 RBI on his way to winning the National League Rookie of the Year.
Howard was a strong hitter for the Dodgers, finishing ninth in MVP voting in 1962 on the strength of 31 home runs and 119 RBI. However, he was traded to the Washington Senators in December 1964. Just a few years later, Howard would become one of the most fearsome sluggers in the game. He hit over 40 home runs three years in a row between 1968 and 1970, with a high of 48 and twice leading the league. He made the All-Star team four years in a row, had three straight seasons with over 100 RBI, and became known as the “Capitol Punisher,” among other nicknames.
Howard finished his career with 382 home runs, 1,119 RBI, and an OPS of .851. While Howard retired as a player, he remained in the sport for years as a manager and coach, leading the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets, and coaching for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In his final years, he worked in player development for the Yankees.
