1965 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Elston Howard seems to thrive on work and scoff at age. Last season, at age 34, he showed no signs of slowing down as he enjoyed another banner year ; he led the club in batting with a .313 mark, as well as in doubles (28), caught 150 games and paced the league's catchers for the third consecutive year with a fielding average of .998. But these are just becoming routine performances for El, who has excelled since replacing Yogi Berra as regular Yankee catcher. He was voted the Babe Ruth Award as the top player in the 1958 World Series, led the Yanks in hitting in 1961 with a .348 average and reached the very pinnacle when, in 1963, he was named the American League's Most Valuable Player."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1965
"The American League's Most Valuable Player of 1963 raised his seasonal batting average by 26 points last season ... to a fine .313. In addition, the 35-year-old ace backstop set a major league record with 939 putouts and an American League record of 1,006 total chances, most among catchers. But Elston Howard did not repeat as MVP, losing out to Baltimore's Brooks Robinson.
Entering his second decade with the Yanks, Howard has hit over .300 in three seasons and has raised his career mark to .289. An American League All-Star for the last five years, he has also been a World Series participant nine times for a total of 47 games. Ellie won the Babe Ruth Award as the top Series performer in 1958 when he went to the outfield in an emergency and gave a spectacular performance. He hit a home run against the Dodgers in his first Series at-bat in 1955.
Howard's home run production was off last year while his batting average climbed. The hard-working and durable receiver played in 150 games last season, the most he's had in the majors. Converted from the outfield while being developed in the Yankee farm system, Elston has become the premier catcher in the league and reportedly the highest paid catcher in the history of the game."
-The New York Yankees Official 1965 Yearbook
"When Elston Howard received the coveted honor of being named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the 1963 season, he batted .287. Ellie actually improved that mark to .313 last year, a campaign that saw him again perform as one of the Yankees' most vital cogs in their fight for the flag.
There have been quite a few top-notch seasons for the 35-year-old star since the Yankees obtained his contract from the Kansas City Monarchs on July 24, 1950. Ellie played with Muskegon, Kansas City and Toronto before coming to New York to stay in 1955 as a catcher-outfielder.
Howard made an auspicious start with a .290 batting mark as he clouted 10 homers. After successive seasons of .262 and .253, Ellie came through with a fine .314 in '58 only to fall back to .273 and .245 the following two campaigns.
Then came 1961, which saw Howard come through with the highest average of his career - .348. He also clouted 21 homers and knocked in 77 runs. He continued his fine work in '62 with a .279 mark, again swatting 21 round-trippers and accounting for 91 RBI. Then came the MVP year of '63. That campaign also saw Ellie lead the club in homers with 28 and triples with six. He batted in 85 runs.
Howard has, of course, appeared in numerous World Series and All-Star Games, with one his best-remembered feats coming on September 28, 1955, when he connected for a home run in his first time at bat in a Series. Ellie was also given the Babe Ruth Award for being the top Series performer in 1958.
When Howard was named the A.L.'s Most Valuable Player, he became the first member of his race to capture that prize. It was the 16th time a Yankee player had been so honored. Ellie's name, therefore, joined those of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Spud Chandler and Phil Rizzuto as recipients through the years. DiMaggio, Mantle and Berra were named on three occasions, with Maris winning twice."
-Jay Publishing 1965 New York Yankees Yearbook
" 'He's a well-rounded pro,' says Yankee bullpen coach Jim Hegan in describing the skills that have made Elston Howard the best catcher in baseball. 'He can throw, handle pitchers, receive and hit,' Hegan continues. Popular with players, fans and sportswriters, the 36-year-old Yankee catcher has come a long way from the sandlots of St. Louis where he was signed by the Kansas City Monarchs in 1948.
In 1963 Howard received one of baseball's top honors - American League Most Valuable Player. Ellie hit .287 that year with 28 home runs and 85 runs batted in, and his steadying influence was a major factor as the Yankees won the pennant. In 1961 he hit .348, his top mark to date. 'I've got a lot to be thankful for,' Howard admits. 'Playing here with these guys is a wonderful experience.'
Purchased from the Monarchs for $7,500 in 1950, Howard was assigned to the Yankee farm system. He was an outfielder in those days and it wasn't until 1953, after he returned from military service, that the Bronx Bombers decided to turn their promising young prospect into a catcher. The move surprised many baseball observers because the Yankees were loaded with receivers at the time.
'Sure we got ketchers all over the place,' manager Casey Stengel agreed. 'But how many can hit the long ball? How many of them fellers would you trust in place of Mister Berra? But this feller can hit the long ball and look how he throws. Yep, he's got it.' As usual, Casey was right.
Howard joined the Yankees in 1955 after two seasons in the high minors. For several years, he shuttled between the first base, the outfield and catcher until he settled down behind the plate in 1960. Last year his .313 average led all Yankee batters. Ellie's ambition? 'One of these days,' he says, 'I would like fans to mention me in the same breath with Yogi Berra and Roy Campanella.' "
-1965 Official Baseball Almanac
Purchased by Yankees from Kansas City Monarchs, July 24, 1950.
Named International League's Most Valuable Player while with Toronto, 1954.
Hit home run in first World Series at-bat, September 28, 1955.
Won Babe Ruth Award (top World Series player), 1958.
Led Yankees in hitting (.348), 1961.
Hit two home runs in one game three times, 1962.
Led Yankees in batting average (.287), home runs (28) and triples (6), 1963.
Named Most Valuable Player in American League, 1963.
Knocked in deciding run a club-leading 21 times, 1964.
Led Yankees and third in American League in hitting (.313), 1964.
Led Yankees in doubles (27), 1964.
Set Major League record, most putouts, season, by a catcher (939), 1964.
Set American League record, most chances accepted, season, by a catcher (1,006), 1964.
Led American League catchers in fielding (.998), 1964.
-1965 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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