Manufacturer: Bowman
Set: 1955 Bowman Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Elston Howard
Position/Team: Catcher for Yankees
Card #: 68
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-3/4”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Elston Gene Howard was a versatile and powerful right-handed hitter who excelled as a catcher and outfielder during a professional career that spanned from 1948 to 1968.
Howard’s career is marked by several historic “firsts.” He began his professional journey in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs (1948–1950) before signing with the New York Yankees organization. On April 14, 1955, he made his debut, becoming the first Black player to play for the New York Yankees—an event that occurred eight years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues.
Howard played for the Yankees from 1955 through 1967, serving as a key player on the dominant Yankees teams of the era. He was initially a capable utility player, shifting between the outfield and catcher, but eventually became the team’s primary catcher. His best season came in 1963 when he was named the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP), an award that made him the first Black player in American League history to receive the honor.
Howard finished his playing career with the Boston Red Sox in 1967–1968, helping the team win the pennant in 1967. After retiring as a player, he returned to the Yankees as a coach from 1969 to 1979, becoming the first Black coach in the American League.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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