Frank Howard, who starred for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Senators across 16 MLB seasons before coaching for two-plus decades, has died, the Washington Nationals announced Monday. Howard was 87.
Howard hit 382 home runs during his lengthy career. He won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1960, won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1963 and was named to four straight All-Star Games with Washington (1968-71).
“Growing up a baseball fan in Washington D.C., Frank Howard was my hero,” Nationals managing principal owner Mark D. Lerner said in a statement. “The towering home runs he hit into the stands at RFK Stadium gave him the nickname ‘Capital Punisher,’ but I’ll always remember him as a kind and gentle man. The entire Lerner family would like to offer our thoughts and condolences to Frank’s family during this difficult time. The world of baseball has truly lost a giant.”
The 6-foot-7 Howard hit 237 of his home runs over his seven-year stint with the Senators; only Ryan Zimmerman hit more for a Washington-based team. The Nationals inducted him into their ring of honor in 2016 for contributions made to Washington baseball.
When the Senators became the Texas Rangers in 1972, the outfielder/first baseman was among the players to make the move. He was the oldest living member of that expansion team at the time of his death, according to the Rangers.
“Frank Howard was a bigger-than-life personality who was very popular with his teammates and the fans in Washington and Texas,” the Rangers said in a statement. “The Rangers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Howard’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed.”
Howard led the American League in home runs twice (44 in 1968 and 1970) and also led the AL in RBIs (126) and walks (132) in 1970.
He was a lifetime .273 hitter with 245 doubles, 35 triples, 1,119 RBIs and 782 walks.
–Field Level Media