Larry Howard
The picture of Howard used on the 1971 Topps Rookie Stars No. 102

Meet The Bulls

LARRY HOWARD -- This powerfully built 21-year-old infielder-outfielder has been one of the Bulls' steadiest performer all year . . . . The 6-2 210-pound Californian was born in Columbus, Ohio, but moved to Atwater, Calif., when he was three and has lived there ever since . . .
He had a driving desire to become a professional ballplayer . . . Played Little League baseball, Pony League, Babe Ruth League, and American Legion baseball . . . His Legion team won 23 in a row and his teammates included
Alex Barrett and Rick Pierini. . . Rich, who is now pitching for Oklahoma city, and Alex, who is the Bull shortstop, were nieghbors when they were growing up . . . Was one of the finest football players ever to attend Atwater High. . . Took some persuasion from his high school coach, Fran Oneto, to get him to try out for his high school baseball club . . . From the time he stepped on the field he was a natural . . . Was All Valley-Oak 		League in Northern California for two years in baseball and football and in the latter was all Northern California as an end. . . Had numerous football scholarship offers but passed them up to sign with Bill Wight and the Houston Astros in '63. . . Larry went first to Moultrie in the Georgia-Florida League . . . In '64 played for Salisbury in the Western Carolinas and was the All Star first baseman. .Played for Salisbury again in '65 and was the All-Star first-sacker in the Carolina League this year. . . . Attends Merced Junior College in thje off-season and is majoring in physical ed with an eye towards coaching. . . . Likes to hunt birds and plays a lot of basketball. . . . His dad is a lieutenant colonel in the Army, serving in Viet Nam. . . . Larry is hitting presently .305 with 13 HRs and 76 RBIs and on hte basis of that record has been promoted to Amarillo of the Texas League and is leaving this afternoon. . . . He welcomes the opportunity and hopes to help Amarillo cop the Texas League flag. . . .

The Durham Sun, August 6, 1966

Larry Howard's Record in the Astros Organization
Season Team League BA   HR    RBI   
1963Moultrie Colt .22'sGeorgia-Florida .216 115
1964Statesville Colts Western Carolinas .2401069
1965Salisbury AstrosWestern Carolinas .2451062
1966Durham Bulls Carolina .2971370
1967Oklahoma City '89ers Pacific Coast .271 218
1967Amarillo Sonics Texas .326 114
1968Oklahoma City '89ers Pacific Coast .175 1 2
1968Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Texas .244 420
1969Oklahoma City '89ers American Assoc. .235 317
1970Oklahoma City '89ers American Assoc. .3021251
1970Houston Astros National .307 216
1971Oklahoma City '89ers American Assoc. .245 3 21
1971Houston Astros National .234 214
1972Oklahoma City '89ers American Assoc. .228 313
1972Houston Astros National .223 213
1973Houston Astros National .167 0 4
1976Memphis International .167 0 0

1968 was, as they say, a very good year for Mr. Larry Howard. If any Astro fans are familiar with Howard, it's because he caught JR Richard's first major league start. But Howard is maybe unique in that he caught three no-hitters in a single year. Breaking spring training with the AA Dallas Fort-Worth Spurs in 1968, Howard caught both Bob Watkins' and Luis Penalver's no-hitters two days apart in May, then three months later, after a promotion to AAA Oklahoma City, caught Howie Reed's seven-inning no-no.

Howard was also in uniform for the second of Juan Quintana's no-hitters for the Durham Bulls, for Bruce Von Hoff's no hitter for the same team, and may very well have been in uniform for either Paul Doyle's no-hitter (also for the 1968 Spurs), or Oscar Zamora's seven-inning perfecto for the '89ers September 2, 1972.

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