Ryan Howard is a former professional baseball player who played as a first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was born on November 19, 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri. Howard played college baseball at Missouri State University before being drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft.
Howard made his Major League debut in 2004 and quickly established himself as one of the most feared power hitters in the game. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2005 after hitting 22 home runs and driving in 63 runs in just 88 games. The following year, he led the league in home runs with 58 and was named the National League Most Valuable Player.
Over the course of his career, Howard was a three-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger award four times. He was also a key member of the Phillies team that won the World Series in 2008, hitting two home runs and driving in eight runs in the series.
Despite his success, Howard's career was plagued by injuries in his later years. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the final game of the 2011 season and missed the first half of the 2012 season as a result. He also suffered a knee injury in 2013 that required surgery and limited his playing time.
Howard's production declined in his final years with the Phillies, and he was released by the team in 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves later that year but was released before the start of the season.
Overall, Howard had a successful career as a power hitter and was one of the most dominant players in the game during his prime. He finished his career with 382 home runs, 1,194 RBIs, and a .258 batting average.
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