1983 TCMA Idaho Falls Athletics #27 Steven Bernard Howard

   

      "Selected by Oakland Athletics in 8th Round (185th overall) of 1983 amateur entry draft" as they say.  Who actually remembered that the A's had a farm team in Idaho Falls?  And who could believe that as of 1983, TCMA was STILL using black & white photos on their cards?  Steve-o had an unimpressive beginning there at Idaho Falls, batting a whopping .222, whiffing 96 times in 203 at bats.  Steve was often considered the strongest power hitter in the Oakland farm system, and this was a system that included Jose Canseco.  However, over the course of his minor league career, he never managed to hit over .270 or more than 17 HR in a season.  But, alas, he played a couple of seasons in Huntsville, and that was enough to qualify him to one of my player collections.  I'm a sucker for minor league sluggers I've seen pop one over the plywood ads for local Mazda dealerships.