Elston Howard

GeoPoto · #1 06-05-2024, 04:50 AM

How fitting that Elston Howard�s tenth and final World Series would be against his old hometown, St. Louis. Unfortunately, the Cardinals beat the Sox; Elston mustered only two hits in the Series. That off-season he pondered retirement, and numerous possibilities. The Red Sox asked him to play and later coach. The Yankees suggested a minor league coaching job or scouting position. Bill Veeck said he wanted to make Howard the game�s first black manager, if he could buy the Washington Senators. In the end, Veeck�s bid to buy the Senators was rebuffed. Howard helped a New Jersey entrepreneur, Frank Hamilton, to market the doughnut � not the edible kind, but the weighted metal ring that batters today use in the on-deck circle. But when spring came, the Red Sox offered a $1,000 raise, And Howard decided to play one more year.

The Red Sox and Elston were banged up. Lonborg broke his leg skiing. Tony Conigliaro did not regain his full eyesight and sat out the season, his career apparently over. George Scott�s average dropped to .171 as his weight rose. Meanwhile, Howard�s elbow acted up again. At midseason, he couldn�t straighten it and he did not want surgery. His playing time limited because of the chronic injury, Howard played in only 71 games. In his final game at Fenway, he received a standing ovation. He had hit .241, with five homers and 18 RBIs. He held a press conference on October 21 to announce his retirement from playing. Then on October 22, he was at another press conference, this one in New York to announce he was taking the first base coaching job with the New York Yankees.

GeoPoto · #2 06-06-2024, 04:22 AM

Elston became the first black coach for an American League team, but never reached his goal of becoming the first black manager. (Frank Robinson would, in 1975 with the Indians.) While coaching, he took part in various side businesses, including the ongoing involvement with batting doughnuts; a printing company; opening an art gallery with Arlene in Englewood, New Jersey, to sell Haitian and modern art; heading a division of Group Travel, for whom he was the star attraction on corporate tours and cruises; the Elston Howard Sausage Company concession stand at Yankee Stadium; and serving as vice chairman of the board of Home State Bank, an interracially owned bank that catered to the black community. George Steinbrenner, who bought the Yankees in 1973, would not make Howard a manager, but he did make occasional noises about wanting to move Elston from coaching to the front office. Meanwhile, at Yankee Stadium, he became the important counterbalance to the fiery Billy Martin in �The Bronx Zoo.� He coached through the 1978 season.

In mid-February 1979, after nearly collapsing at La Guardia airport, Elston was diagnosed with myocarditis. The muscles of his heart were being attacked by the coxsackie virus and the doctors prescribed total rest. Elston could not participate in spring training. George Steinbrenner told him not to worry. Whenever he recovered, his coaching job would be waiting, and he stayed on the payroll. By August, Howard was still too weak to attend Thurman Munson�s funeral. In February 1980, a year after his attack at the airport, Elston was appointed by Steinbrenner to join the front office staff. He would be an assistant to Steinbrenner, and his duties ranged from appearing at banquets to scouting talent in the Yankees minor league system. His health never recovered, though, and he was often too weak to travel. His heart was giving out, and on December 4, 1980, he was admitted to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Two weeks later, he died at age 51. In 1984, the Yankees retired his number 32.

GeoPoto · #3 06-14-2024, 09:38 AM

I wanted to end this thread with this image, but it turned out I didn't have access to it where I was. So, I am adding it now.

This is an original watercolor by LeRoy Neiman. It shows Howard from behind wearing his famous "32" and reads, "Parque Universitario de Caracos Venezuela 17 Margo 71" underneath. Signed and inscribed "Elston Howard" by Neiman in pencil. Neiman personally gave this piece to Howard who enjoyed it for many years. When Howard was done enjoying it, he gave it to a close personal friend. I got it when the family of that friend submitted it to auction.

Thanks for listening.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Elston Howard Autograph Help	rmarks	Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports	5	04-28-2019 06:44 AM
FS: '64 TG Elston Howard SGC 80 - SOLD	Robextend	1960-1979 Baseball Cards B/S/T	1	02-19-2016 05:56 PM
Elston Howard Signed 3*5 For Sale	canjond	Autographs & Game Used B/S/T	2	03-22-2013 08:38 PM
Elston Howard auto	Northviewcats	Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980)	0	08-20-2012 01:02 PM
WTB: '55B Elston Howard or a few 1960s	donmuth	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	1	12-09-2010 01:53 PM