On the blog today, we post up my "not really missing in action" 1977 card for Art Howe, who appeared in 21 games for the Houston Astros in 1976 after parts of two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates:
Howe
hit .138 over those 21 games, with four hits in 29 at-bats along with
six walks while putting in time at third and second base.
His 11-year career as a player would really hit its stride after
joining the Astros, as he'd play pretty much full-time between
1977 and 1982 before a couple of part-time years in St. Louis in 1984
and 1985 (he didn't play Major League ball in
1983).
As you all know, he'd really find his niche on the Major League
level as a manager, guiding the Astros, Oakland A's and New York Mets
between 1989 and 2004.
His real success was leading the young studs in Oakland in the
late-90's/early-00's, winning 100-games in two seasons (2001 and 2002),
but never being able to get past the N.Y. Yankees (remember the
now-famous "Jeter-Flip"?).
All told, Howe would win 1129 games as a manager in the Big
Leagues, finishing 2nd in "Manager of the Year" voting four years in a
row from 1999-2002.
