This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2017
The man with the fearsome presence and the greatest roster of
multiple nicknames in baseball history – “Hondo”, “The Capital Punisher”
and the “Washington Monument” - Frank Howard arrived in Los Angeles as a
rookie in 1958 amid great expectations and didn't disappoint, earning
Rookie of the Year honors only two years later after hitting .268 and
clubbing 23 home runs. A basketball and football All-American at Ohio
State, the 6-8, 275-lb. Howard was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors
but ultimately settled on a baseball career. Seemingly a good decision:
his 382 career home runs were the eighth most by a right-handed hitter
when he retired and 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.
Howard’s road jersey from the
Dodgers World Championship season of 1959 features "Los Angeles" applied
in classic Dodger blue felt lettering across the chest, with Howard's
No. 25 in red felt on the front and repeated in blue on verso. Tagging
in the collar includes a MacGregor label (size 50) above a felt strip
tag featuring “Howard” in blue chain stitch. On the inside front of the
tail is a "Set 1 1959" flag tag. Howard has added an incredibly large
inscription and autograph to the front in black marker. The completely
original and unaltered jersey exhibits excellent game use and is problem-free.
Although Howard only played in 9 games with the Dodgers,
including as a late season call up for their run to the title, it is
quite possible he wore this jersey into his 1960 breakout season (ROY).
An accompanying photo of Howard wearing this exact jersey establishes a
definitive photo match. It was originally part of the esteemed Delbert Mickel estate collection.
Autograph pre-certified by PSA/DNA.