WASHINGTON — The community is mourning the loss of a D.C.-area sports legend. Washington Senators slugger Frank Howard has died at the age of 87, the Nationals announced on Monday.
Inducted into the Nationals Park Ring of Honor in 2016 for his contributions to D.C. baseball, officials say Howard hit 237 of his 382 career home runs during his seven years with the Senators from 1965-71. He ranks behind only Ryan Zimmerman for most career-long balls representing Washington D.C.
“Growing up a baseball fan in Washington D.C., Frank Howard was my hero,” said Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner. “The towering home runs he hit into the stands at RFK Stadium gave him the nickname ‘Capital Punisher,’ but I’ll always remember him as a kind and gentle man. The entire Lerner family would like to offer our thoughts and condolences to Frank’s family during this difficult time. The world of baseball has truly lost a giant."
Officials say Howard represented the Senators in four Mid-Summer Classics and led the American League in home runs twice. “The Capital Punisher” also paced the AL in RBI (126) and walks (132) in 1970.
Howard holds the Washington D.C. baseball record for most home runs in a season (48), most consecutive games with a home run (6), and highest career slugging percentage (.513).
“I’d like to send my deepest condolences to the family of Frank Howard,” said Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo. “Frank was a legendary figure in this town and a player that D.C. baseball fans truly admired. I had the utmost respect for him both as a ballplayer and as a human being, and it was always a pleasure seeing him at Nationals Park. He was generous with his time and was never afraid to pass along his knowledge and wisdom. He will be missed.”
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