Ryan Howard

Bio

Ryan Howard, a member of the CICL’s 1999 Decatur Blues, was part of the Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State) baseball team from 1999 to 2001. He hit .355 with 19 home runs his freshman season, and was subsequently named the school’s Rookie of the Year, the Missouri Valley Conference Rookie of the Year, and a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. He would go on to hit 50 home runs, drive in 183 runs, and bat .335 over 172 collegiate games.

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Howard in the 5th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball amateur player draft. He was named the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year after batting .288 with 22 home runs, 52 runs scored, and 63 runs batted in. He went on to be named National League MVP the following season in 2006, hitting .313 with 149 runs batted in and 58 home runs, breaking fellow Prospect League Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's Phillies single-season record.

Spending 13 seasons in the Major Leagues, Howard finished his career with 1,475 hits, 382 home runs, 848 runs scored, and 1,194 runs batted in. In addition to his honors as Rookie of the Year and MVP, he was named an All-Star three times, won the NL Silver Slugger in 2006, won the 2006 Home Run Derby, and captured the 2008 World Series with the Phillies.

“My time in the CICL was incredible and played a major role in shaping my career,” said Howard. The level of baseball I was able to learn and compete in, along with the relationships I built with teammates—many of whom I’m still close with today—are things I’ll always value. It’s a true honor to have played in the league, and an even greater honor to be elected into the Hall of Fame. I’m grateful to everyone who made this possible, especially the CICL, the Decatur Blues, and all the staff who supported us along the way.”