August 3, 1967. The Yankees traded Elston Howard to the Boston Red Sox for Pete Magrini and a player to be named later. The first Black player in Yankees history, a nine-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, an MVP, and the most respected man in the clubhouse -- shipped to a rival at the trade deadline because the 1967 Yankees had given up. If the Maris trade in December had signaled the end of the dynasty, the Howard trade confirmed it. The last grown-up had left the building.
The Man They Traded
Howard broke into the major leagues in 1955, eight years after Jackie Robinson crossed the color line in Brooklyn. The Yankees were the last of the three New York teams to integrate, and Howard bore that weight with a dignity that made everyone around him better. He wasn't just the first Black Yankee -- he was one of the best catchers in franchise history, period.
His resume spoke for itself. Nine All-Star selections. The 1963 American League MVP. Two World Series rings. A Gold Glove behind the plate. Howard caught Whitey Ford, worked with every pitcher on the staff, and provided the kind of veteran leadership that can't be quantified on a stat sheet. When young players needed guidance, Howard gave it. When the clubhouse needed stability, Howard provided it.
The Decision
By August 1967, the Yankees were 52-58 and going nowhere. The Red Sox, meanwhile, were in the middle of the most improbable pennant race in American League history -- what Boston's fans would call the "Impossible Dream" season. The Red Sox needed a veteran catcher to steady their young pitching staff down the stretch. The Yankees needed to acknowledge reality.
Ralph Houk made the call. Howard, at 38, still had value -- not as an everyday catcher, but as a mentor, a game-caller, and a professional presence behind the plate. The Yankees received Pete Magrini, a minor league pitcher who never amounted to anything, and Ron Klimkowski, who was sent over on August 8 to complete the deal. The return was nothing. The Yankees gave away one of the most respected players in franchise history for spare parts.
Howard in Boston
The cruelest part of the trade was how well it worked -- for Boston. Howard joined a Red Sox team featuring Carl Yastrzemski, who was in the middle of his Triple Crown season, and a young rotation led by Jim Lonborg. Howard brought something Boston's roster lacked: the calm authority of a man who'd caught in World Series games and knew what October pressure felt like.
Down the stretch, Howard caught key games, worked with Boston's pitchers, and provided the veteran backbone that young teams need when the pressure mounts. The Red Sox won the American League pennant on the final day of the season in a four-team race that remains one of baseball's greatest. They lost the World Series to St. Louis in seven games, but the pennant itself was a miracle -- and Howard was part of it.
Meanwhile, the Yankees finished 72-90 in ninth place. They'd traded their institutional memory to a rival and watched that rival reach the World Series.
What Was Lost
The Howard trade wasn't just about one player. It was about what kind of organization the Yankees had become. Championship franchises don't trade away living legends for minor league flotsam at the August deadline. They don't surrender their best remaining link to the dynasty years. They don't hand a rival the veteran leadership that might make the difference in a pennant race.
CBS's Yankees did all of that. The trade said everything about where the franchise stood: they were sellers in August, dealing away the present because they had no plan for the future. Howard deserved to finish his career in pinstripes. Instead, he finished it in Boston red, contributing to someone else's dream while his own organization rotted from within.
| Trade Date | August 3, 1967 |
| To | Boston Red Sox |
| Yankees Received | Pete Magrini, Ron Klimkowski |
| Howard's Yankees Career | 1955-1967, 9x All-Star |
| 1963 AL MVP | Yes |
| World Series Titles | 2 (with Yankees) |
| Red Sox 1967 Result | Won AL Pennant |
Howard Debuts with Yankees
Elston Howard becomes the first Black player in Yankees history, breaking through eight years after Jackie Robinson integrated the Dodgers.
AL MVP
Howard wins the American League Most Valuable Player award, hitting .287 with 28 home runs. He's the first Black player to win the MVP in the AL.
Traded to Red Sox
The Yankees send Howard to Boston for Pete Magrini and a player to be named later. The deal strips the franchise of its last dynasty-era leader.
Trade Completed
Ron Klimkowski is sent from Boston to New York to complete the Howard deal.
Red Sox Win Pennant
Boston wins the AL pennant on the final day. Howard's veteran presence behind the plate helps steady the team through the stretch run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Yankees trade Elston Howard?
The Yankees traded Howard on August 3, 1967, because they were out of contention at 52-58 and the Red Sox offered an opportunity to move a 38-year-old catcher for prospects. The return -- Pete Magrini and Ron Klimkowski -- was minimal, reflecting how little bargaining power a last-place team had at the deadline.
How did Elston Howard help the 1967 Red Sox?
Howard provided veteran leadership and game-calling expertise to a young Red Sox team in the middle of a historic pennant race. His experience catching in World Series games and working with elite pitchers gave Boston the steadiness behind the plate it needed during the stretch run. The Red Sox won the pennant on the final day of the season.
Was Elston Howard the first Black player on the Yankees?
Yes. Howard debuted with the Yankees in 1955, becoming the team's first Black player. The Yankees were the last of the three New York teams to integrate -- the Dodgers had broken the color line with Jackie Robinson in 1947, and the Giants followed with Monte Irvin in 1949.