Final Days and Death
In 1979, Howard was diagnosed with myocarditis, a rare heart disease which causes rapid heart failure. He was considering a heart transplant, but his condition quickly deteriorated. After staying a week at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, Howard died of the heart ailment in 1980. He was interred at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. New York Times columnist Red Smith reacted by writing, "The Yankees' organization lost more class on the weekend than George Steinbrenner could buy in 10 years." In his memory, the Yankees wore black armbands on their sleeve during the 1981 season. On July 21, 1984, the Yankees retired Howard's uniform number 32 and dedicated a plaque in his honor for Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. On that day the Yankees also gave the same honors to Maris who, unlike Howard, was still living. Howard's plaque describes him as "A man of great gentleness and dignity" and "one of the truly great Yankees."
Read more about this topic: Elston Howard
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