Frank Oliver Howard nicknamed "Hondo", "the Washington Monument" and "the Capital Punisher", was
an American baseball player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the Los
Angeles Dodgers and Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchises for most of his career. Howard
began his professional baseball journey after being signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. He
quickly made an impact with his powerful hitting ability and towering stature, standing at 6 feet 7 inches
t... moreFrank Oliver Howard nicknamed "Hondo", "the Washington Monument" and "the Capital Punisher", was
an American baseball player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the Los
Angeles Dodgers and Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchises for most of his career. Howard
began his professional baseball journey after being signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. He
quickly made an impact with his powerful hitting ability and towering stature, standing at 6 feet 7 inches
tall which made him one of the most physically intimidating players in the sport. Throughout his career,
he played for several teams including the Dodgers, Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, and Detroit
Tigers. He hit a total of 382 home runs during his career. His impressive offensive skills earned him
numerous accolades and recognition within the baseball community including The Sporting News Minor
League Player of the Year Award. During his time with the Washington Senators from 1965 to 1971,
Howard became an iconic figure in the franchise's history leading the team to their first winning season
in over a decade in 1969. This achievement earned him the American League's Most Valuable Player
(MVP) award that year. Following his retirement as a player, Howard coached for the Milwaukee
Brewers from 1977 to 1980, before being named manager of the San Diego Padres before the 1981
season.
