Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard went to Eagles' game before Sunday's Game 2.
Ryan Howard went to Eagles' game before Sunday's Game 2.
Posted: October 19, 2010

Position: First base

Height/weight: 6-4/255 pounds

Age: 30. Birthdate: Nov. 19, 1979

Hometown: St. Louis

Years in major leagues: 6

How obtained: Fifth-round pick by the Phillies in the 2001 draft.

Statistically speaking: While his numbers were down slightly this season, some of that can be brushed aside due to an ankle injury that cost him 19 games. For the fifth straight season, Howard surpassed 100 RBI (108) and 30 home runs (31). His strikeouts were a full-season career low but his on-base percentage dropped to .353, the second lowest over the past five seasons.

The lineage: Ryan Howard is one of four children, including fraternal twin, Corey. He has long joked that he is the smallest of the three boys and that includes older brother Chris.

Chris Howard is an associate athletics director at the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in 1997. He was a combat medical specialist in the U.S. Army from 1990 to '95 and he served in Operation Desert Storm with the 24th Infantry Division.

Much ado about NOTHING!: The Internet was abuzz Sunday afternoon when Howard made an appearance at Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles' win over Atlanta. At about 1:30, Howard did an interview with Fox commentator Tony Siragusa about Game 2 of the NLCS against San Francisco later that night. Many felt Howard should have been at Citizens Bank Park preparing for the game after he had struggled for the better part of a month at the plate. Howard went out and had his best game of the 2010 playoffs, going 2-for-3 with a double and a key first-inning walk. Phillies fans can only hope Howard can make an early morning appearance at a youth soccer or football game in the Bay Area today to prepare for this afternoon's Game 3.

The contract: Howard is signed with the Phillies through the 2016 season and will earn at least $125 million over the final 5 years of the contract. There is a team option for 2017.

- Michael Radano

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