TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Elston Howard was born on February 23, 1929, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Emmaline Webb and Travis Howard. Raised by his mother — a determined schoolteacher who later became a dietician — and her husband Wayman “Big Poppy” Hill, Elston grew up grounded in faith and discipline. He attended Toussaint L’Ouverture School, worshiped at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and was guided closely by Reverend Jeremiah M. Baker, who became his godfather. From an early age, Howard was taught to work hard, carry himself with dignity, and take care of his body — lessons that would shape his career.

In 1945, at just 16 years old, Howard’s life changed when former Negro Leagues player Frank “Teannie” Edwards saw him dominating a sandlot game in St. Louis. Impressed by the young catcher’s strength and maturity, Edwards helped bring Howard into organized baseball with the St. Louis Braves. By Easter Sunday 1946, Howard debuted in the Tandy League, collecting two hits and throwing out two runners in his first game.

After Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, opportunities slowly expanded. Howard starred at Vashon High School in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Though the St. Louis Cardinals passed on him, the Kansas City Monarchs did not. Signed for $500 a month, Howard joined one of the premier Negro League franchises, where he learned under Buck O’Neil and shared a clubhouse with future legends like Ernie Banks.

In 1950, Yankees scout Tom Greenwade purchased Howard’s contract, setting the stage for history. After military service during the Korean War and several standout minor league seasons — including an MVP campaign in Toronto — Howard finally broke through in 1955, becoming the first African American player in New York Yankees history.

Howard proved far more than a symbol. A versatile player who split time between catcher and the outfield, he became a steady presence on championship teams. In 1961 he hit .348, and in 1963 he became the first African American to win the American League MVP Award, finishing with 28 home runs and a Gold Glove. Over 14 seasons, he played in 10 World Series and helped the Yankees to four titles.

Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1967, Howard’s leadership helped guide the “Impossible Dream” team to the pennant. After retiring in 1968, he became the first Black coach in the American League and later worked in the Yankees’ front office.

Elston Howard passed away in 1980 at age 51. In 1984, the Yankees retired his number 32 — honoring not just a champion, but a quiet pioneer whose grace, talent, and perseverance left a lasting mark on baseball history.

Best Season, 1961
Though he won the MVP in 1963 (one of the strangest MVP votes ever), we'll give his '61 campaign the nod here. He played almost the same amount of games as he did in '63, and batted 35 points higher (.348) with a slugging percentage(.549) almost 100 points better. In '61 he joined Mantle, Maris and the other slugging Yankees in setting the single-season record for homers. Howard hit 21home runs, drove in 77 (batting low in the order), and fielded .993 behind the plate.

Post-Season Notes
Howard was part of many ultimate games in his career, coming out on the losing end five times. Howard played in left field in the '55 and '56 Game Sevens against the Dodgers. He produced a harmless single the first year and went2-for-5 in 1956, scoring a run and driving in a run with a homer in the fourth. In 1957 against the Braves he pinch-hit and struck out, entering as a catcher. In 1958 he was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a stolen base (off Del Crandall and Lew Burdette), and an RBI. In the 1960 Series Howard hit .462 with four runs and RBI. Johnny Blanchard (who hit .455) started and played all of Game Seven, a loss to the Bucs. Conversely, in 1962 Howard hit .143 (3-for-21) and went 0-for-4 in Game Seven's win over San Francisco. In Game Seven of the '62 Series Howard struck out twice against Bob Gibson and also grounded out and singled. In their re-match in '67, Howard fanned, singled, and grounded out.

A larger article is located at SABR bioproject here

Historic Days!

February 23, 1929 in St. Louis, MO The Yankees’ first black player, Elston Howard was forced to play the outfield through much of his first five seasons because Yogi Berra was behind the plate. By 1960, Howard was the starting catcher and Berra was more often in the field. Howard was an exceptional defensive catcher; his .993 career fielding average is one of the highest ever, and he pioneered the use of a hinged catcher’s mitt that led to the modern one-handed catching techniques. He was also highly regarded as a handler of pitchers. He was named to the AL All-Star team nine consecutive years.

February 23, 1934 — Brooklyn Dodgers coach Casey Stengel signs a two-year deal to manage the Team for $12,000 per season. He replaced Max Carey, who guided the sixth-place club to a 65-88 record last season. During the rookie place.

Born: February 23, 1941 in St. Louis, MO . . Ron Hunt once said, “Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball.” He retired with three major league records for HBP: most times in a career (243); in a season (50, 1971); and in a game (three, tied). For seven straight years he led the NL in HBP. He had other ways to get on, as two .300 seasons and good walk totals showed. He set Expo team records for fewest strikeouts in a season (19, 1973) and fewest times hitting into double plays (one, 1971). Though he played on the early, horrid Met teams (in ’64 he was their first All-Star), he was heartbroken when he was traded to the Dodgers in November 1966 for Tommy Davis. After retiring, Hunt went into ranching outside St. Louis.

February 23, 1960 — Twenty-eight months after the Dodgers play their last game in Brooklyn, the demolition of Ebbets Field finally begins when a wrecking ball, painted with red and white stitches, begins its work on the ballpark Brooklyn called home for 44 years. Before the demolition wheel-chair bound Roy Campanella, the team’s former All-Star catcher and three-time National League MVP is given an urn of dirt from behind home plate.

February 23, 1974 – The California Angels send veteran Vada Pinson to Kansas City for minor leaguer Barry Raziano and cash. Pinson will call it quits at the end of the 1975 season, having rung up 2,757 hits, the most ever for an eligible player not in the Hall of Fame.

February 23, 1986 — Although he loses his arbitration case, Boston third baseman Wade Boggs receives the richest amount ($1.35 million) ever awarded by this process. Last season’s AL batting champ had sought $1.85 million, but arbitrator Thomas Roberts rules in favor of the Red Sox, resulting in a drop of a half-million dollars for the infielder.

February 23, 2012 — Ryan Braun becomes the first major league player to successfully appeal a positive PED test when arbitrator Shyam Das rules in his favor with regard to a positive test performed during the 2011 postseason. The test showed a testosterone level so high as to be almost unimaginable without outside interference. The three-man panel chaired by Das rules that the fact that proper protocol was not followed in collecting and storing the sample prior to testing, makes it impossible to be certain that it has not been subject to tampering at some point. Braun had proclaimed his innocence all along, and now no longer faces a 50-game suspension.

Todays featured clip:

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Who is credited with creating the  doughnut for your bat?  

Answer in tomorrows newsletter

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Walter Johnson won 38 1-0 games over his career. How many did he lose?

A. 38

B. 20

C. 24

D. 15

Answer: 24

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