Books and articles about Dick Howser

A feisty, quick infielder with good bat, Howser later became respected as a successful manager, but died tragically on the heels of his greatest personal triumph:(f-h)h)h)leading the Royals to the 1985 World Championship.

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RELATED LINKS » 1983: The Pine Tar Game Finally Ends Submissions » Major League Leaders Who Weren't: 1961's Unbalanced Schedule by Fred Worth Around the Web » THE ROYALS' OTHER INTERIM MANAGERS from kansascity.com » Dick Howser from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

The 5'8" 155-lb Howser signed with the Athletics for a reported $21,000 bonus and had two outstanding seasons. In 1961 he hit .280, stole 37 bases, scored 108 runs, and was named TSN AL Rookie of the Year. He also led AL shortstops in putouts and errors. His only other year as a regular was 1964, when he hit .258 with 101 runs and 20 steals.

Howser won an AL East title for the Yankees his first full year as manager (1980), but was sacked by George Steinbrenner when the Yankees lost the LCS. He returned to the majors in late 1981 to lead the Royals to the AL West title. He won the division again in 1984 and the WS in 1985. But two days after he managed the AL to an All-Star Game victory in 1986, it was discovered that he had a brain tumor. He retired during spring training of 1987 and succumbed shortly afterward. (JM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 25, 1963: The Indians acquire C Joe Azcue and SS Dick Howser from the A's for C Doc Edwards and $100,000. » December 20, 1966: The Yankees acquire SS Dick Howser from Cleveland for minor leaguer Gil Downs and cash. » July 24, 1978: In Kansas City, a sobbing Billy Martin reads a prepared statement in which he resigns as the Yankee manager. Dick Howser will fill in that night as the Yanks lose 5–2. » October 28, 1979: George Steinbrenner announces that Billy Martin is fired again as a result of his recent barroom fight. Dick Howser is named to replace him. » November 21, 1980: Ending weeks of speculation that he would be fired despite having led the Yankees to 103 wins last season, manager Dick Howser "resigns" and is immediately replaced by GM Gene Michael. » August 31, 1981: Royals manager Jim Frey is fired and replaced by Dick Howser, whose Yankees lost to Frey's Royals in last season's American League Championship Series. Kansas City was 10-10 in the 2nd half of the season, 30-40 overall. » July 18, 1986: The Royals announce that 50-year-old manager Dick Howser, who led the club to a World Championship last season, will miss the rest of the season to undergo treatment for a brain tumor that is later revealed to be malignant. 3B coach Mike Ferraro will manage the club in Howser's absence. » October 10, 1986: The Royals announce that Dick Howser, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor in July, will return to manage the club next season. » February 23, 1987: Just three days after training camp opens, an extremely frail Dick Howser abandons his attempt to come back from a brain tumor and gives up his position as Royals manager. Billy Gardner is named his successor. » June 17, 1987: Dick Howser dies at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. He led the Royals to their first World Championship in 1985, but was forced to give up managing during the 1986 season because of a brain tumor. His uniform number, 10, will be retired by the club on July 3rd. » August 27, 1987: The Royals fire manager Billy Gardner, who replaced Dick Howser in spring training, and replace him with John Wathan, the former Kansas City catcher who was managing the club's Triple A Omaha affiliate. In Wathan's ML managerial debut, the Royals win 3–2 on George Brett's 10th-inning home run to move within three games of first-place Minnesota.