Original Washington Senators, Texas Rangers Slugger Frank Howard Dies at 87

Frank Howard was one of the best sluggers of the 1960s and 1970s, playing for the Texas Rangers in their first seasons in Arlington.

Author:
Inside The Rangers Staff
Oct 31, 2023 3:30 PM EDT

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Frank Howard, one of the best power hitters of the 1960s and 1970s and an original Texas Rangers player died on Monday at the age of 87, the Washington Nationals announced.

The Rangers also posted a release about Howard's passing.

"The Texas Rangers are saddened by the passing of one of the top sluggers in franchise history," the Rangers said.

Howard, an outfielder and first baseman, was the oldest living expansion Washington Senator at the time of his passing.

Nicknamed “Hondo” was to some the top player in the history of the expansion Washington Senators and one of MLB's top sluggers of the 1960’s.

From 1965-71, he batted .279 with 237 homers and 670 RBI in 1,077 games with Washington. He is the all-time expansion Senators (1961-71) leader in batting average, runs (516), hits (1071), doubles (146), homers, RBI, walks (533), on-base percentage (.368), and slugging (.513). He was an A.L. All-Star in four consecutive seasons from 1968-71.

Known for his titanic home runs, Mr. Howard led the American League with 44 homers in both 1968 and 1971 while hitting a career best 48 long balls in 1969. He also led the league with 126 RBI and 132 walks in 1970.

Howard hit the final homer in Senators’ history on Sept. 30, 1971 against the New York Yankees at R.F.K. Stadium.

He was on the roster when the Senators moved to Arlington in the fall of 1971 and hit the first home run ever at Arlington Stadium on April 21, 1972.

Howard batted .244 with 9 homers and 31 RBI for the Rangers before being traded to Detroit.

After a 16-year Major League career in which he hit 382 homers and drove in 1,119 runs, He was a long-time Major League coach and manager.

"Frank Howard was a bigger than life personality who was very popular with his teammates and the fans in Washington and Texas," the Rangers said. "The Rangers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Howard’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed."