Auto Collection: Frank Howard Archives

Big Frank Howard was an intimidating as they come. He was 6 foot 8 inches tall and had a bat equal to his size. In 1959, as a the Dodger minor league, he belted 43 home runs. The next year he roamed the Dodger right field and garnered Rookie of the Year honors after hitting 23 home runs while batting .268 with 77 RBI's. Unfortunately, a move from the LA Coliseum to newly opened and spacious Dodger Stadium did not bode well for his statistics. He was eventually traded away to the Senators and found his stroke as he belted as many as 48 dingers for Washington.

In 2005 Howard recalled welcoming the trade despite going from a pennant contender to a weak expansion team, noting, "I was essentially a fourth outfielder in L.A., hitting 25 home runs a year in the biggest baseball park in America and doing it on 400 at-bats." He added, "What could I do if I get 550 at-bats? I had my best years here."

The worse part about these encapsulated cards is that they just don't scan very well. Here is a 2001 Topps Archives autographed card of Frank Howard.