Remember how intimidating Randy Johnson was on the pitching mound? Well, Frank Howard was that mirror image in the batters’ box.
Howard was a 6-7, 225 pound behemoth. He wore glasses and had a long neck and powerful arms. He was quite a sight with a bat in his hands, and he scared the hell out of pitchers.
In 1968 and again in 1970, Howard won the home run crown in the American League while playing for the Senators. His years with the team in RFK Stadium in D.C. have not been forgotten by those who saw him handle the bat like a toothpick. Howard earned the nickname “The Capital Punisher.”
This cute commercial for Nestle’s Quick drink features Howard, circa 1971. It appears to have been filmed in either Florida during spring training, or at a field somewhere in southern California.
2 Comments
I don’t know how he isn’t one of the top 100 first basemen of all time. He’s the only guy to hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium and helped the Dodgers clinch the 1963 World series.
Frank Howard was a left fielder. He is ranked among our top 100 left fielders. Thanks for visiting the website.
What is your source for Howard hitting a home run OUT OF YANKEE STADIUM? I don’t think that happened.