Thomas Howard
Born: 12/11/1964 in Middletown, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1990-07-03 | Final Game: 2000-10-01
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Thomas Sylvester Howard
Biography
Thomas Howard, born in 1964, was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball during his career from 1990 to 2000. Known for his versatility as a position player, Howard appeared in 1,015 games and compiled a batting average of .264. Over the course of his career, he recorded 655 hits, 44 home runs, and 264 RBIs, showcasing his ability to contribute both with power and consistency at the plate. His speed on the bases was another notable aspect of his game, as he successfully stole 66 bases, illustrating his aggressive playing style and knack for creating scoring opportunities.
Howard's career spanned a transformative period in baseball, characterized by increasing offensive production and the emergence of a more athletic style of play. While not a household name, he played a vital role on the teams he was part of, often providing depth and experience. His contributions were especially valuable in the context of the changing dynamics of the game in the late 1990s, as players began to focus more on power and speed. Howard's legacy is marked by his tenacity and the impact he had during his years in the league, leaving a lasting imprint on the franchises he represented.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1015 | 2483 | 297 | 655 | 123 | 22 | 44 | 264 | 66 | 165 | 432 | 0.264 | 0.311 | 0.384 | 0.695 | -3389.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | SDP | NL | 20 | 44 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.273 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | SDP | NL | 106 | 281 | 30 | 70 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 24 | 57 | 0.249 | -324.8 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 117 | 358 | 36 | 99 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 15 | 17 | 60 | 0.277 | -487.6 |
| 1992 | SDP | NL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | -487.6 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | 38 | 141 | 22 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 0.277 | 147.0 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | 74 | 178 | 26 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 5 | 12 | 42 | 0.236 | 147.0 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | 83 | 178 | 24 | 47 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 0.264 | -267.0 |
| 1995 | CIN | NL | 113 | 281 | 42 | 85 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 0.302 | -17.2 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | 121 | 360 | 50 | 98 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 6 | 17 | 51 | 0.272 | -457.2 |
| 1997 | HOU | NL | 107 | 255 | 24 | 63 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 26 | 48 | 0.247 | -507.2 |
| 1998 | LAD | NL | 47 | 76 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 0.184 | -424.1 |
| 1999 | STL | NL | 98 | 195 | 16 | 57 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 17 | 26 | 0.292 | 71.8 |
| 2000 | STL | NL | 86 | 133 | 13 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 7 | 34 | 0.211 | -492.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0.158 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | NLDS2 | HOU | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1995 | NLCS | CIN | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.250 |
| 1995 | NLDS2 | CIN | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.100 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 688 | 498 | 1146 | 35 | 17 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | SDN | OF | 13 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | SDN | OF | 86 | 68 | 182 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | CLE | OF | 97 | 76 | 185 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | OF | 37 | 31 | 73 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | CLE | OF | 47 | 29 | 81 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1994 | CIN | OF | 57 | 32 | 80 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 | CIN | OF | 82 | 57 | 126 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | CIN | OF | 103 | 77 | 160 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 | HOU | OF | 62 | 54 | 107 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | LAN | OF | 29 | 12 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | SLN | OF | 48 | 38 | 77 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | SLN | OF | 27 | 16 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 307 |
| Center Field | 228 |
| Right Field | 206 |
| Designated Hitter | 14 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | SLN | NL | $650,000 |
| 1999 | SLN | NL | $325,000 |
| 1998 | LAN | NL | $425,000 |
| 1997 | HOU | NL | $750,000 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | $675,000 |
| 1995 | CIN | NL | $675,000 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | $575,000 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | $325,000 |
| 1992 | SDN | NL | $158,000 |
| 1991 | SDN | NL | $105,000 |
| 1990 | SDN | NL | $100,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,763,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State University | Muncie | IN | 1984, 1985, 1986 |