Elston Howard

From SoSH

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Howard's Moments in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

Elston Gene Howard (February 23, 1929 - December 14, 1980), caught for 14 years for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Coming up in the Negro Leagues, Howard played 3 years in the outfield, but was then switched to catcher during his three year minor league career. His lifetime fielding percentage of .993 was a major league record from 1967 to 1973, and he retired among the AL career leaders in putouts and total chances. His lifetime slugging average of .427 ranked fourth among AL catchers when he retired. After his retirement as a player, he was a Yankee coach until his premature death at age 51 from heart failure.

Awards

• 1954 International League MVP - Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1958 American Leauge Babe Ruth Award
• 1963 American League MVP
• 2-time American League Gold Glove - Catcher (1963 & 1964)
• 9-time American League All-Star (1957 - 1965)

Howard's Moments in the Sun

• 20-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1961-1963)
• Won four World Series Rings with the New York Yankees (1956, 1958, 1961 & 1962)

Trivia

• Howard hit a homer in his first World Series at bat in 1955.
• Howard would go on to appear in 10 World Series.
• Howard was the first African-American Yankee
• Howard is widely credited as the creator of the batting donut.
• Howard served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
• Howard is interred at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Transactions

• Before 1950 Season: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent.
• August 3, 1967: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for Ron Klimkowski (PTBNL) and Pete Magrini.
• October 29, 1968: Released by the Boston Red Sox.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis