Elston Howard

[GeoPoto]

In Kansas City, Howard, like the rest of the Monarchs, was treated like a king. Player-manager Buck O’Neil and Earl “Mickey” Taborn, the Monarchs catcher and Ellie’s roommate, showed him the ropes. They enjoyed tailored clothes, terrific food, and the best jazz music in the nation in Kansas City. Because Taborn was the regular catcher, Howard played left field, filling in at first base when O’Neil was out of the lineup. Then in 1949, Taborn left to play for the Triple-A Newark Bears. By the time he returned in 1950, Howard’s new roommate was a young fellow named Ernie Banks.

[Dewey]

Great thread.

I wish I had a better contribution, but it still reflects well on the man. Some pioneers together!

Original AP caption: The Baltimore Orioles' Larry Doby and Puggy Bell (white T-shirt) scramble for the ball as referee Jackie Robinson, formerly of the Brooklyn Dodgers, looks on during a benefit game in New York, January 16th 1958. The hand at right belongs to Elston Howard of the New York Yankees. The game at the Renaissance Casino was a fundraiser for the Harlem branch of the YMCA

[GeoPoto]

(Thanks Dewey: great photograph. Obviously, Elston's arm.)

The players could see what was coming. Monarchs owner Tom Baird had found that there was money to be made selling players to the majors. Ernie and Ellie made a bet: Whoever got to the majors first would call the other and tell him what it was like. Tom Greenwade, the legendary Yankees scout, soon came calling to look at a different player, but Buck O’Neil steered him to Howard. Within days, Elston Howard and Frank Barnes had been sold for $25,000 to the New York Yankees.

(I apologize for the blurry scan. I can't fix it at my present location.)

[GeoPoto]

Now 21, Howard debuted on July 26, 1950, in left field for the Class A Muskegon, Michigan, Clippers. He would earn $400 a month. The Clippers had a 39-46 record when he arrived, and went 36-18 in the 54 games he played, making the playoffs. Howard batted cleanup and hit well, but the Clippers fell short of the league championship.

[GeoPoto]

Returning to St. Louis for the off-season, Elston announced his decision to marry his high school sweetheart, Delores Williams. Just before the wedding, he was drafted into the Army, at the height of the Korean War. While he was in basic training, the marriage with Delores was dissolved — there are conflicting stories as to why. Howard was sent overseas, but he never fought in Korea. Once the Army realized it had a great baseball player on its hands, he was assigned to Special Services and sent to Japan. That was all Howard ever did in the army: play baseball.

[GeoPoto]

By 1953 Howard was playing for the Yankees’ top farm team, the Kansas City Blues. Another black player, Vic Power from Puerto Rico, was a teammate. Power batted .349 but because of the amount of trouble he stirred up was considered too much of a loose cannon to ever make it in pinstripes. Power was eventually traded to the Philadelphia A’s. In August, Jet magazine featured an article with the headline “Howard May be First Negro with Yankees.”

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

By 1953 Howard was playing for the Yankees’ top farm team, the Kansas City Blues. Another black player, Vic Power from Puerto Rico, was a teammate. Power batted .349 but because of the amount of trouble he stirred up was considered too much of a loose cannon to ever make it in pinstripes. Power was eventually traded to the Philadelphia A’s. In August, Jet magazine featured an article with the headline “Howard May be First Negro with Yankees.”

Here is my original press photo of Vic with the Blues dated 5/24/52. The Yankees had Been Scouting him since 1950!
"A good chance of become the first Negro ever to play on the American league team"
Amazing history.

And to keep it on track with Elston. A snapshot taken of him alongside Mick, Game 3 of the 1960 World series.