Elston Howard

[GeoPoto]

The following year, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues. Now 18, Howard was working at Bauer’s grocery store and finishing at all-black Vashon High School. After Robinson’s debut, Vashon hastily formed a baseball team. Elston was already a star athlete at Vashon, playing football, running track, and making all-state in basketball. He was easily the best player in baseball, as well, and after graduating from Vashon, he played another summer with the (St. Louis) Braves.

[jingram058]

Here's a photo from the 1958 World Series, Gil McDougald and Elston Howard being interviewed after one of the games at the Stadium. I like the old-school camera gear, and both of them just seated on a table.

[GeoPoto]

(Great photo, Jim.)

He was urged by Teannie Edwards to attend an open tryout for the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park, but the Cardinals turned a blind eye. (Alas, the Cardinals would not field a black player until 1954 — Tom Alston.) Meanwhile, college beckoned, with three Big Ten schools (Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State) asking for his services in football and several others interested in him for track, basketball, and baseball. Emmaline was hoping her son might grow up to be a doctor. But Edwards called in scouts from the Kansas City Monarchs, the elite Negro Leagues team Jackie Robinson had played for. The Monarchs were so impressed that they went to his mother to negotiate a professional contract. Elston would get $500 a month, mailed directly to her.

[MantleMarisFordBerra]

That’s a sweet’56! And I agree with the others his ‘58 is an outstanding looking card. Glad to see Ellie getting some love!

[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.)