A Frank Howard Autograph With Mustard Please!

This 2001 Topps Legends Frank Howard autograph has been on my desk for almost two months now. It's been sitting here with some other Dodger items that I haven't had a chance to put away. My desk seriously  looked like it got hit by a Dodger tornado. With the day off today, I though I'd get this and some of my other item scanned into the computer.


Anyhoo, this is a signed  reprint of Howard's 1960 Topps rookie card. That season, Howard won NL Rookie of the Year. With the yellow background and the red, white and blue stripes down the middle, it looks like someone dropped their county fair ribbon in a puddle of mustard. This is truly one of the ugliest cards I own, but Hondo's beautiful blue signature makes up for it.

Since 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium, I do want to mention Howard's 1962 season. That year, the Paul Bunyanesque Howard batted .296 with 31 homeruns and 119 rbi. It was one of the greatest offensive seasons in Dodger history and he was ninth in MVP voting! Three other Dodgers got more votes than him, Maury Wills won the award, Tommy Davis came in third and Don Drysdale was fifth in the voting. Howard had a very nice career, also playing for the Washington Senator, the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. You can read more about him here.