On Dec. 4, 1964, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Frank Howard to the Washington Senators, where he went on to become one of Major League Baseball’s star players.
Howard began his career with the Dodgers after signing with the club in 1958, earning a call-up to MLB later that season. During his first consistent stretch of playing time in 1960, he was among the league’s best rookies.
In 117 games during that year, Howard posted a .268/.320/.464 slash with 23 home runs and 77 RBI, which earned him National League Rookie of the Year honors. He was the first Dodgers player to win the award after the franchise moved to Los Angeles.
Howard also played a key piece to the Dodgers World Series title run in 1963, however, his role was mostly as a fourth outfielder during his time in L.A.
The following year, the front office opted to package him, Ken McMullen, Phil Ortega, Pete Richert and Dick Nen to the Senators for John Kennedy, Claude Osteen and $100,000.
After the trade, Howard was named to four-straight American League All-Star teams from 1968-1971, finishing within the top-five in Most Valuable Player voting twice.
Dodgers trade for Eddie Murray following World Series title
Also on this day in Dodgers history but in 1988, the Dodgers acquired first baseman Eddie Murray from the Baltimore Orioles for Juan Bell, Ken Howell, and Brian Holton.
The deal came a few years after Murray had requested the Orioles trade him, and the Dodgers were more than willing to take a gamble on the switch-hitting veteran. To go along with Murray, the Orioles included cash in the deal to pay the remaining $8 million left in the final three years of his deal.
From 1989-1991, Murray played in 468 games for the Dodgers, posting a .798 on-base plus slugging with 74 doubles, 65 home runs, and 279 RBI. He earned a Silver Slugger Award in 1990, finishing fifth in the NL MVP race.
In 1997, a 41-year-old Murray played nine games for the Dodgers, logging nine plate appearances. It was his final stint in MLB, wrapping up a 21-year big league career.
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