Dec. 4, 1964 - Frank Howard, the mammoth Dodger outfielder, was traded to the Washington Senators today.
Howard figured in a startling six-player swap, moving from L.A. to Washington along with third baseman Ken McMullen and pitchers Pete Richert and Phil Ortega for southpaw Claude Osteen, infielder John Kennedy, and an estimated $50,000 cash.
Howard, a 6-8 one-time $108,000 bonus baby, once was the apple of the Dodgers’ eye but fell from grace last season when he first threatened to quit baseball in the spring and then batted an anemic .226 when the club finally talked him into coming back. The hulking former Ohio State basketball star also had hit 24 homers and drove in 69 runs.
McMullen, in the Army part of this year, batted .234 when he returned, while Richert was 2-3 with the Dodgers and 7-8 at Spokane, and Ortega had a 7-9 slate with Los Angeles.
Osteen was the key man from the Dodgers’ point of view. The southpaw fastballer won 15 games for Washington’s ninth-place club and lost 13. He will get a shot as one of the Dodgers’ four regular starters.
Kennedy batted .230 for the Senators and can play third base as well as shortstop.
The Dodgers and Senators were both satisfied with the deal.
“With this trade, we have as much power as any team in the American League,” said Washington manager Gil Hodges, who figures that Howard will help the Nats at the gate as well as the plate.
“We came here looking for more power,” said Dodger general manager Buzzie Bavasi, “and wound up with more defense and pitching, but serves the same purpose. We won’t need as many runs.”
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