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Frank Howard was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 8, 1936, in Ohio and grew up in Columbus. Howard was a standout athlete in high school, excelling in both baseball and basketball. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1958 and began his professional career in the minor
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Frank Howard was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 8, 1936, in Ohio and grew up in Columbus. Howard was a standout athlete in high school, excelling in both baseball and basketball. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1958 and began his professional career in the minor leagues.
Howard made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960. He quickly established himself as a power hitter, hitting 23 home runs in his rookie season. He continued to improve over the next few years, hitting 31 home runs in 1962 and 28 in 1963. Howard was traded to the Washington Senators in 1965, where he would spend the next seven seasons.
During his time with the Senators, Howard became one of the most feared hitters in the league. He hit 44 home runs in 1968, leading the American League and earning the nickname "Hondo." He followed that up with 48 home runs in 1969, again leading the league. Howard was a six-time All-Star during his career and won two Silver Slugger awards.
In 1972, Howard was traded to the Texas Rangers, where he played for three seasons. He continued to hit for power, hitting 23 home runs in 1972 and 23 again in 1973. Howard finished his career with the Detroit Tigers in 1974 and the Seattle Mariners in 1975.
Overall, Howard hit 382 home runs during his career and had a batting average of .273. He was known for his towering home runs and his ability to hit the ball out of any ballpark. Howard was inducted into the Washington Nationals Ring of Honor in 2016, recognizing his contributions to the team during his time with the Senators.
After his playing career, Howard worked as a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He also worked as a broadcaster for several teams, including the Mariners and the Nationals. Howard was known for his friendly personality and his love of the game. He passed away on December 23, 2020, at the age of 84.
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1971-Sep-29 • NYY/WAS • New York Yankees vs Washington Senators - Radio Broadcast / As the calendar flipped to September 29, 1971, the New York Yankees were set to square off against the Washington Senators in what was a routine late-season contest. The Yankees, having had a middling season, were trying to finish strong. The Senators, on the other hand, were in the midst of their final season before moving to Texas to become the Rangers, a fact that added a certain poignancy to every game they played. This particular match-up was notable for the fact that it was one of the last games the Senators would play in Washington D.C., a fact that was not lost on the fans or the players. The air was thick with nostalgia, and the typically straightforward game of baseball took on a different hue, as every pitch, every swing, and every cheer echoed with the weight of history.
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