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One of the most physically intimidating hitters in the sport, Frank Howard debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958 and was named the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1960. Following the 1964 season he was traded to the Washington Senators and went on to lead the American League in home runs twice (1968 and 1970) and in slugging average, runs batted in and walks once each. His 382 career home runs were the eighth most by a right-handed hitter when he retired; his 237 home runs in a Washington uniform are a record for any of that city's several franchises, as are his 1969 totals of 48 HRs and 340 total bases. At the time Howard retired, he also held Washington/Texas franchise records of 1,172 games, 4,120 at bats, 246 HRs, 1,141 hits, 701 RBI, 544 runs, 155 doubles, 2,074 total bases and a .503 slugging average.
At 6 feet 7 inches and 260 pounds, Howard's hitting feats became legendary. Nicknamed "Hondo" in his early days in Los Angeles, his home run production in Washington made him a Washington fan favorite and earned him the nickname "The Capital Punisher." Hall of Famer Ted Williams, Howard's manager late in his career, called him "the strongest man in the history of baseball." He was a four-time All Star, earning the honor from 1968 through 1971, and was a member of the 1963 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In August, 1972 he was sold to the Detroit Tigers, finishing his career with the Tigers in 1973.
This is a Frank Howard game-used professional model baseball bat manufactured by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company. It is a signature model with Mike Brumley's name stamped in script on the barrel as Brumley had an endorsement contract with the company at the time of manufacture. Although Howard's first order of bats from H & B were shipped on 4/18/1958, it is noteworthy that he did not sign an endorsement contract with the company until September 1971. When Howard arrived in Washington in 1965, he asked his teammate Mike Brumley (who had a contract with H & B) to order some bats for him to use. The 5-foot 10-inch, 195–pound Brumley, who most frequently ordered H & B model F123 bats that were 33 inches in length and weighed 31 ounces, ordered some bats to Howard's specifications.
This bat has what is commonly referred to as 1965-68 era labeling, however is specific to the period when Howard and Brumley were teammates, 1965 and 1966. Howard's uniform number 9 (which he wore in Washington from 1965 to 1968, giving it up in 1969 when Ted Williams became manager) is evident on the knob in vintage white paint, as is Howard's name on the barrel, applied by the equipment manager. The Model Number R43 is stamped into knob of this bat, as is the extreme weight of the bat – 43 oz. The bat is hickory and has a hickory finish. It measures 36 inches in length and currently weighs approximately 41.5 ounces. A review of Frank Howard's personal Hillerich & Bradsby factory shipping records documents eight orders of Model R43 bats during this period (1964-68) with dimensions between 36 and 38 inches and weighing 40 ounces or more, making this bat consistent with Frank's documented ordering records. This bat exhibits a significant number of game use characteristics, including light pine tar remnants, hit marks, cleat marks and rack marks.
This bat was signed by Frank Howard in silver marker. At the time the bat was signed, Howard confirmed the information above. The signature, on three lines, is personalized to former Washington bat boy Greg Taylor, and reads:
To Greg Good Luck Frank Howard
The signature is clear and unhurried, over 4 inches in length, and is a clear 10 on a scale of 10. This is a great opportunity to obtain a rare game used bat from of one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, Frank Howard. The unique qualities of this bat, along with Howard's perfect signature, make this truly a one-of-a-kind item.View Lot Detail page
At 6 feet 7 inches and 260 pounds, Howard's hitting feats became legendary. Nicknamed "Hondo" in his early days in Los Angeles, his home run production in Washington made him a Washington fan favorite and earned him the nickname "The Capital Punisher." Hall of Famer Ted Williams, Howard's manager late in his career, called him "the strongest man in the history of baseball." He was a four-time All Star, earning the honor from 1968 through 1971, and was a member of the 1963 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In August, 1972 he was sold to the Detroit Tigers, finishing his career with the Tigers in 1973.
This is a Frank Howard game-used professional model baseball bat manufactured by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company. It is a signature model with Mike Brumley's name stamped in script on the barrel as Brumley had an endorsement contract with the company at the time of manufacture. Although Howard's first order of bats from H & B were shipped on 4/18/1958, it is noteworthy that he did not sign an endorsement contract with the company until September 1971. When Howard arrived in Washington in 1965, he asked his teammate Mike Brumley (who had a contract with H & B) to order some bats for him to use. The 5-foot 10-inch, 195–pound Brumley, who most frequently ordered H & B model F123 bats that were 33 inches in length and weighed 31 ounces, ordered some bats to Howard's specifications.
This bat has what is commonly referred to as 1965-68 era labeling, however is specific to the period when Howard and Brumley were teammates, 1965 and 1966. Howard's uniform number 9 (which he wore in Washington from 1965 to 1968, giving it up in 1969 when Ted Williams became manager) is evident on the knob in vintage white paint, as is Howard's name on the barrel, applied by the equipment manager. The Model Number R43 is stamped into knob of this bat, as is the extreme weight of the bat – 43 oz. The bat is hickory and has a hickory finish. It measures 36 inches in length and currently weighs approximately 41.5 ounces. A review of Frank Howard's personal Hillerich & Bradsby factory shipping records documents eight orders of Model R43 bats during this period (1964-68) with dimensions between 36 and 38 inches and weighing 40 ounces or more, making this bat consistent with Frank's documented ordering records. This bat exhibits a significant number of game use characteristics, including light pine tar remnants, hit marks, cleat marks and rack marks.
This bat was signed by Frank Howard in silver marker. At the time the bat was signed, Howard confirmed the information above. The signature, on three lines, is personalized to former Washington bat boy Greg Taylor, and reads:
To Greg Good Luck Frank Howard
The signature is clear and unhurried, over 4 inches in length, and is a clear 10 on a scale of 10. This is a great opportunity to obtain a rare game used bat from of one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, Frank Howard. The unique qualities of this bat, along with Howard's perfect signature, make this truly a one-of-a-kind item.View Lot Detail page