The Washington Nationals will induct former Washington Senators outfielder Frank Howard into the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park Friday, August 26, before the Nationals play the Colorado Rockies.
"Frank Howard was the favorite player of so many Washington Senators fans until the team moved to Texas after the 1971 season," said Mark D. Lerner, Vice Chairman and Principal Owner of the Washington Nationals. "Inducting Frank into the Nationals Ring of Honor will be a personal thrill for my entire family and me. We are excited to honor him for all he has contributed to the game of baseball and to celebrate his 80th birthday, which was on August 8th."
Frank Howard hit 237 of his 382 career home runs during his seven-year tenure with the Washington Senators from 1965-71. No player representing Washington D.C. has hit more home runs than Howard's 237. Current National Ryan Zimmerman is second on the list with 213. Howard represented the Senators in four All-Star Games (1968-71) and led the American League in home runs twice, clubbing 44 homers in both 1968 and 1970.
During his time in Washington, teammates, media and fans alike marveled at Howard's tape-measure home runs, many of which taunted cavernous D.C. Stadium's dimensions, earning him the nicknames "The Capital Punisher," "The Washington Monument," and "Hondo."