Former baseball slugger Frank Howard, known for his 16-season career in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, and Detroit Tigers, has died, the Washington Nationals announced. He was 87 years old.
The family gave no cause of death. Throughout his career, Howard participated in 1,895 regular-season games and made three postseason appearances from 1958 to 1973. Notably, he amassed a total of 382 home runs.
Recognized as one of the most physically imposing figures in the sport, Howard stood at an imposing height of 6 feet 7 inches and weighed between 275 and 290 pounds. Additionally, he had a brief stint as a manager, leading the San Diego Padres in 1981 and the New York Mets in 1983.
"Growing up a baseball fan in Washington D.C., Frank Howard was my hero. 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," Nationals owner Mark Lerner said in a statement.
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Frank Howard's accolades
During his career, Howard earned the distinction of being an All-Star for four consecutive seasons, from 1968 to 1971. He also secured a World Series victory early in his career with the Dodgers in 1963.
Apart from his successful baseball career, Howard was presented with a chance to play in the NBA.
In 1958, he was chosen as a third-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Warriors, following his All-American accolades in both baseball and basketball during his tenure at Ohio State University.
However, he ultimately opted to focus on his career in baseball.
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