I wonderful appreciation of the man. I followed only the God-fearing National League, and so know only very little about the Upstart American League. But I remember Howard because he was huge, I think the biggest baseball player I ever saw. About 6'7" and between 255 and 275 lbs.
I met Mr. Howard 20 years ago in Florida at a fundraiser featuring two dozen retired ballplayers. It was the time of year all players and it seemed many former players were coming south. One of the finest gentlemen I've ever met. We were discussing Harmon Killebrew and Mr. Howard tells me "Harmon was just a little guy but his shoulders were this huge". Great article on a life well lived.
A totally tangential comment, but I somehow don't remember realizing in 1988, or at any time until I just read the first sentence of your second paragraph, that Willie Horton the murderer had the same name as Willie Horton the ballplayer.
Thank you for this excellent and deserving tribute to a wonderful person and a baseball legend to those of us who still remember when a class act was the norm in the Grand Old Game. Unfortunately we also, as you have chronicled here, just lost "Brooksie".
I wonderful appreciation of the man. I followed only the God-fearing National League, and so know only very little about the Upstart American League. But I remember Howard because he was huge, I think the biggest baseball player I ever saw. About 6'7" and between 255 and 275 lbs.
I met Mr. Howard 20 years ago in Florida at a fundraiser featuring two dozen retired ballplayers. It was the time of year all players and it seemed many former players were coming south. One of the finest gentlemen I've ever met. We were discussing Harmon Killebrew and Mr. Howard tells me "Harmon was just a little guy but his shoulders were this huge". Great article on a life well lived.
A totally tangential comment, but I somehow don't remember realizing in 1988, or at any time until I just read the first sentence of your second paragraph, that Willie Horton the murderer had the same name as Willie Horton the ballplayer.
Thank you for this excellent and deserving tribute to a wonderful person and a baseball legend to those of us who still remember when a class act was the norm in the Grand Old Game. Unfortunately we also, as you have chronicled here, just lost "Brooksie".
Great post, even to someone without the level of Paul's interest in the game or his skill in expressing his enthusiasm. Jim Dueholm
As a lifelong Giants fan, Frank Howard scared hell out of Giants pitching. He was larger than life.