Wilbur Howard Explained

Wilbur Howard
Position:Outfielder
Bats:Both
Throws:Right
Birth Date:8 January 1949
Birth Place:Lowell, North Carolina, U.S.
Death Place:Humble, Texas, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 4
Debutyear:1973
Debutteam:Milwaukee Brewers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 30
Finalyear:1978
Finalteam:Houston Astros
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.250
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:6
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:71
Teams:

Wilbur Leon Howard (January 8, 1949 – December 17, 2022[1]) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1973) and the Houston Astros (1974–1978).

Howard was selected in the 19th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Pilots, who would move to Milwaukee and become the Brewers after the season. Howard played in the Brewers organization for the next four seasons, getting a September call-up in 1973, when he batted .205 in 39 at bats. The following spring, he was traded to the Astros in exchange for the star-crossed Larry Yount and another minor leaguer.

Howard started the season in the minor leagues, but was called up in mid-June, spending the rest of the season as the Astros' fourth outfielder. In, he remained in that role, although the Astros rotated their other outfielders (Greg Gross, César Cedeño, and José Cruz) out of the lineup often enough that Howard played in 121 games, batting .283 with 32 stolen bases, which was eighth in the league and second on the team to Cedeño's 50.

In, however, manager Bill Virdon moved Howard back into a more traditional fourth outfielder role, and he continued to serve in that capacity for three seasons. After spending in the minor leagues with the Charleston Charlies, Howard called it quits.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wilbur Howard Obituary . Echovita . February 12, 2023.