Elston Howard's professional career began in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1948, but the New York Yankees signed him in 1950.  After two years in the military and two years in the minors, Howard debuted in pinstripes in 1955.

Howard had learned how to be a Catcher, but with Yogi Berra in tow, he was used as a backup there.  He would receive playing time in the 1950s, either as a backup in the Outfield or occasionally at First Base.  Playing for the Yankees gave him national attention, and he was regularly named to the All-Star Games despite not having a central position.  New York won the World Series in 1956 and 1958, but by 1961, he was finally set to take up the Catcher's position on a regular basis.

Howard again helped the Yanks win the World Series in 1961 and 1962, and in 1963, when he hit a career-high 28 Home Runs, he won the American League MVP.  Howard’s nine-year streak of All-Star Games ended in 1965, and he finished his career in 1968 with two final years as a Red Sox.

He would later win two more World Series rings with the Yankees as a Coach in 1977 and 1978.

Again, did we ever say this would be fast?

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have completed our next all-time top 50, this time that of the New York Yankees.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following:

1. Sabremetric tallies while with that team, mostly WAR.

2. Traditional metrics and how they finished in their respective league overall.

3. Playoff accomplishment.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

Saying all of that, as.

The complete list can be found here, but as always we announce our top five in our news. They are:

1. Babe Ruth

2. Lou Gehrig

3. Mickey Mantle

4. Joe DiMaggio

5. Derek Jeter

One hell of a top five wouldn’t you say?

So which team is up next?

We are sticking with Baseball and it will be five time World Series Champion, the Cincinnati Reds

As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com thank you for your support.

When Elston Howard finally made his major league debut in April 1955, he carried a historic weight that extended far beyond the white lines of the diamond. As the first African-American player to break the color barrier for the sport's most successful franchise, Howard faced immense, high-pressure scrutiny with quiet dignity and resilience. A former standout for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues, the St. Louis native was intentionally converted into a catcher by the New York front office during his minor league journey, a strategic move that would eventually transform the backstop position for a new generation in pinstripes.

Securing regular playing time early on demanded a lot of patience with team structure. Howard joined the Bronx during a period when the legendary Yogi Berra was still performing at an MVP-level behind the plate. Instead of leaving his defensive skills unused on the bench, manager Casey Stengel utilized Howard's athleticism by making him a versatile player capable of handling multiple positions. Throughout the late 1950s, he fluidly played left field, right field, and first base while serving as Berra's main backup. Despite the constant changes in defensive roles, Howard's exceptional performance gained national recognition, earning him his first of nine straight All-Star selections in 1957.

When Ralph Houk assumed the managerial role in 1961, Howard was finally appointed as the team's full-time catcher, beginning a legendary era of individual achievement and team excellence. He provided stability to the pitching staff with his calm demeanor, using exceptional game-calling skills and a rapid release that earned him two Gold Glove Awards. Complementing his defensive mastery with significant power hitting, he smashed 21 home runs and led the historic 1961 "M&M Boys" team to a world championship.

In 1963, his exceptional two-way skills reached their peak during a historic season. Howard dominated the junior circuit, hitting a career-high 28 home runs, driving in 85 RBIs, and posting a strong line of .287/.342/528, all while providing perfect defensive security behind the plate. His consistent performance earned him the 1963 American League Most Valuable Player award, the first time an African-American player received this honor in American League history, as he single-handedly led an injury-ravaged Yankees team to another pennant.

In October, Howard was a consistently reliable figure, appearing in an impressive ten World Series throughout his career. He played a key role in leading the Yankees to four championships (1956, 1958, 1961, and 1962). Known for his expert postseason performance, he managed high-pressure pitching staffs with complete composure. After a late-career trade to the Boston Red Sox in 1967, during which he contributed to the famous "Impossible Dream" pennant run, he officially retired after the 1968 season.

Howard quickly returned to the Bronx dugout, becoming a highly respected and level-headed first base coach for more than ten years. He shared his extensive operational expertise with the next generation of stars, including Thurman Munson, contributing to the team's consecutive World Championships in 1977 and 1978, and earning six rings in total. Sadly, his life was abruptly ended when he died of sudden heart issues in December 1980 at age 51.

On July 21, 1984, the franchise retired Howard’s iconic number 32 jersey and dedicated a bronze plaque in his honor inside Monument Park.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least amount of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.