Frank Howard Signing Autographs

Growing up in the Washington-Baltimore area, as a baseball fan in general, I often heard of the legend of big Frank Howard. Well, yesterday while in Tampa, he was signing autographs for fans, young and old alike for well over an hour. Fans and autograph seekers stood in line flanked by security in an organized fashion, unlike the video below of Don Mattingly.

In an era where most athletes former and current seem to be self-absorbed, it was a wonderful pleasure to see Mr. Howard to out his time, interact and chat with fans.

The sad thing was while I was videotaping him and getting a few words with Frank, quite a bit of fans asked me who he was and what his significance to baseball. I was quite alarmed that fans who travel in some cases thousands of miles for spring training and not know who Frank Howard was in terms of the baseball lexicon.

Anyhow, I enjoyed taking the time to have a few words and chat with him, as he seems to be a great man and thoroughly enjoys the fans.