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On this date in Yankees history: Elston Howard earns 1963 AL MVP

On this date in New York Yankees history, Elston Howard earned the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award. Howard became the first African American player in the Junior Circuit to win the award.

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The Yankee backstop topped Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline in the voting, garnering 89% of the vote.

That season, Ellie cracked a career-high 28 home runs, earned a gold glove and was an AL All-Star. Howard also hit a team-best .333 in the World Series.

In addition, the Yankees catcher became the third consecutive Yankee to take home MVP honors, along with Roger Maris (1960-61) and Mickey Mantle (1962).

It was an era when Yankee players could hit in a loaded lineup and win the award. How about that?