Wilbur Howard
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Leon Howard is an American
former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. During a 6-year baseball career, he 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 bat
s. The following spring, he was traded to the Houston 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 base
s, 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. During a 6-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1973) and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1974-1978).
Howard was selected in the 19th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
by the Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
, who would move to Milwaukee and become the Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
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 bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. The following spring, he was traded to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in exchange for the star-crossed Larry Yount
Larry Yount
Lawrence King "Larry" Yount is a former major league baseball player. Yount is the only player in MLB history to be credited with pitching a game without actually facing a batter...
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
Greg Gross
Gregory Eugene Gross , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1973-1989, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies...
, César Cedeño
César Cedeño
César Cedeño Encarnación is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Houston Astros , Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed....
, and José Cruz
José Cruz
José Cruz Dilan is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is also the former first base coach for the Houston Astros. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros...
) out of the lineup often enough that Howard played in 121 games, batting .283 with 32 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, which was eighth in the league and second on the team to Cedeño's 50.
In , however, manager Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
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
Charleston Charlies
The Charleston Charlies was the name of the third and most recent Class AAA minor league baseball franchise that was located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. The Charlies played in the International League from 1971 to 1976 as the relocated Columbus Jets franchise. In 1977 the franchise...
, Howard called it quits.