Major League Baseball Player, Manager. He attended Florida State University before being signed as an amateur free agent by the Kansas City Athletics. He marked his Major League debut on April 11th, 1961 and appeared in 158 games that season with the A's, recording 171 hits; he earned All-Star status that year while finishing second behind Don Schwall in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Howser would play for a total of eight seasons at the shortstop and second-base positions (1961 to 1968) with the A's, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees; he appeared in 789 career games, while recording 617 hits with a .248 lifetime batting average. Following his playing career, he served as a coach with the Yankees (1969 to 1978) and succeeded Billy Martin as their manager (Howser served one game as manager of the Yankees in 1978). In 1980 he guided the Yankees to a 103 win 59 loss record, however he was dismissed after they failed to advance to the World Series when they were defeated by the Royals in the league championship series. In 1981, he became manager of the Kansas City Royals and during his tenure led them to the 1985 World Series Title. During the 1986 season, Howser was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and would miss the remainder of that season to receive treatment. The following spring training (1987), he made a valiant effort to return to his managerial duties, but the illness sapped his strength forcing him to leave baseball for good. Howser died four months later.
Major League Baseball Player, Manager. He attended Florida State University before being signed as an amateur free agent by the Kansas City Athletics. He marked his Major League debut on April 11th, 1961 and appeared in 158 games that season with the A's, recording 171 hits; he earned All-Star status that year while finishing second behind Don Schwall in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Howser would play for a total of eight seasons at the shortstop and second-base positions (1961 to 1968) with the A's, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees; he appeared in 789 career games, while recording 617 hits with a .248 lifetime batting average. Following his playing career, he served as a coach with the Yankees (1969 to 1978) and succeeded Billy Martin as their manager (Howser served one game as manager of the Yankees in 1978). In 1980 he guided the Yankees to a 103 win 59 loss record, however he was dismissed after they failed to advance to the World Series when they were defeated by the Royals in the league championship series. In 1981, he became manager of the Kansas City Royals and during his tenure led them to the 1985 World Series Title. During the 1986 season, Howser was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and would miss the remainder of that season to receive treatment. The following spring training (1987), he made a valiant effort to return to his managerial duties, but the illness sapped his strength forcing him to leave baseball for good. Howser died four months later.
Bio by: C.S.
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