Thomas Howard was a professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on November 28, 1964, in San Francisco, California, and attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California. Howard was a talented athlete who excelled in both football and baseball in high school. However, he chose to pursue a career in baseball and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 1986 MLB draft.
Howard made his MLB debut with the Padres in 1990 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Houston Astros in 1992. He played for the Astros for two seasons before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1994. Howard had a breakout season with the Reds in 1996, where he hit 16 home runs and had 63 runs batted in (RBIs) in just 87 games. He was also named to the National League All-Star team that year.
After his successful season with the Reds, Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997. He played for the Dodgers for two seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999. Howard's career took a downturn in St. Louis, where he struggled with injuries and saw limited playing time. He was released by the Cardinals in 2000 and signed with the Atlanta Braves, but he never played for them and retired from baseball that same year.
Throughout his career, Howard was known for his speed and defensive skills. He was a versatile outfielder who could play all three positions and was known for making spectacular catches. Howard was also a solid hitter who had a career batting average of .263 and hit 93 home runs in 10 seasons.
After retiring from baseball, Howard worked as a coach and mentor for young athletes. He was also involved in community service and worked with organizations that helped underprivileged children. However, Howard's life was tragically cut short when he died in a car accident on October 22, 2013, at the age of 48.
In conclusion, Thomas Howard was a talented baseball player who had a successful career in the MLB. He played for several teams and was known for his speed, defensive skills, and versatility. Although his career was cut short, Howard left a lasting impact on the game of baseball and will always be remembered as a talented athlete and a dedicated mentor.
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