New York Knicks player Josh Hart had the honor of throwing the first pitch at Tuesday’s New York Yankees game against the Baltimore Orioles. This event held special significance for Hart, as he wore the jersey of his great uncle, Elston Howard, a pioneering figure in Yankees history.
Howard, who played for the Yankees from 1955 to 1967, was the team’s first African-American player. His impressive career included 12 All-Star selections, six World Series titles, and the 1963 American League MVP award. Although Hart never met Howard, who passed away in 1980, he has long expressed deep admiration for his great uncle’s achievements.
Prior to his 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with Villanova, Hart spoke about Howard’s influence. He described his great uncle as a role model and inspiration in his own sporting career, praising Howard’s character and groundbreaking role with the Yankees.
“(He’s) someone who’s in your family who got to the highest level, who won six World Series championships, was an MVP, is someone you look up to, is somebody you aspire to be in your respective sport,” Hart told. “I used him as a role model, just everything he was able to do: the first black player to play for the Yankees, the character that he had is something that I try to resemble.”
Hart also shared memories passed down from his father about Howard’s playing days. He expressed hope that future generations of his family would look up to him in the same way he admires Howard, highlighting the lasting impact of family legacies in sports.
‘Dad was always telling me stories about when he used to go to the ballpark and watch him play and just learn from him,” he added. It’s someone that I look up to, someone that I always wished I was able to meet. Hopefully, a couple of generations down, someone in my family will be saying the same thing about me.”
Who is Yankees’ backstop and left fielder Elston Howard?
Elston Howard’s remarkable baseball career spanned two decades, from 1948 to 1968, encompassing both the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball. He primarily played for the New York Yankees, but also had stints with the Kansas City Monarchs and Boston Red Sox. Howard’s impact extended beyond his playing days, as he later served as a Yankees coach from 1969 to 1979.
In 1955, Howard broke the color barrier for the Yankees, becoming their first African American player. His stellar performance earned him numerous accolades, including 12 All-Star selections and the 1963 American League MVP award, making him the first black player to receive this honor in the AL.
Howard excelled defensively, winning Gold Glove Awards in 1963 and 1964. He set AL records for putouts and total chances in a season, and his .993 lifetime fielding percentage as a catcher was a major league record for several years.
Off the field, Howard is credited with inventing the batting “doughnut,” a training aid still used by players today. His journey to the majors began when he chose professional baseball over college football scholarships, signing with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1948. The Yankees acquired Howard in 1950, and he made his major league debut in 1955.
Howard’s postseason performances were noteworthy, including home runs in the 1955, 1956, and 1957 World Series. His contributions to baseball, both on and off the field, left an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
Elston Howard’s impact on the Yankees continued to grow in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the 1958 World Series against the Braves, Howard made crucial defensive plays and timely hits that helped the Yankees secure victory. His performance earned him the Babe Ruth Award as the top player in the Series, despite teammate Bob Turley winning the World Series MVP.
By 1960, Howard had taken over as the Yankees’ primary catcher from Yogi Berra. His 1963 MVP season saw him hitting .287 with 28 home runs and 85 RBI, while also earning his first Gold Glove. Howard’s career with the Yankees ended in 1967 when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Over his 14-year career, Howard compiled impressive statistics, including a .274 batting average, 167 home runs, and 762 RBI. After retiring as a player, he became the first black coach in the American League, serving as the Yankees’ first-base coach from 1969 to 1979. During this time, he contributed to the team’s success, including World Series victories in 1977 and 1978.
Howard’s influence extended beyond his playing and coaching roles. He later worked as an administrative assistant for the Yankees until his untimely death at age 51 in 1980. The Yankees honored his legacy by retiring his number 32 and dedicating a plaque in Monument Park. In 2020, the baseball field on the former Yankee Stadium site was renamed in his honor, ensuring his lasting impact on the franchise and the sport.
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