WATCH: Ryan Howard crushes home run in the 2024 East-West Classic

Philadelphia Phillies legend Ryan Howard played in the 2024 East-West Classic, held by the Baseball Hall of Fame over the weekend at Doubleday Field – serving as “a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Game.”

Howard was a member of the East team, coached by former All-Star outfielder Chris Young. Former Phillies Doug Glanville, Tony Gwynn Jr, and Jose Contreras were also playing in the event, along with Philadelphia and Little League World Series legend Mo’ne Davis. 

Thirty former players, with 53 All-Star selections among them, came together on a perfect Saturday for baseball at a sold-out Doubleday Field for the Hall of Fame East-West Classic. In a true throwback, they donned wool jerseys from Ebbets Field Flannels and to a man — and woman — wore the cuffs of their baggy navy-blue pants high, showing off blue stirrups with white stripes. [MLB]

Ryan Howard crushed a home run in the game while also brining home the event’s MVP Award. 

Ryan Howard: Home Run in the 2024 East-West Classic

The Big Piece gets a lil' piece of one. 🚀@baseballhall | @Phillies pic.twitter.com/wpPGgqajQN

— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2024

Final from Doubleday Field: East 5, West 4

Ryan Howard is your Bob Feller Player of the Game after coming up clutch with a three-run home run! pic.twitter.com/xqo9QD237a

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) May 25, 2024

Side Note: This game should have been nationally televised. Major League Baseball’s inability to properly market cool events like this will always be annoying.

Man, it does feel good to see that Ryan Howard baseball swing again.

For those in denial and simply refuse to give Ryan Howard the credit he deserves, here’s a couple fun facts about “The Big Piece” and why he is still, and will likely remain, the most underrated professional athlete in Philadelphia history. 

Howard played 13 seasons for the Phillies. He had a .258 batting average, 1,475 hits, 382 home runs, 1,194 RBIs and 848 runs scored.

• Rookie of the Year 
• National League MVP 
• Silver Slugger 
• NLCS MVP 
• World Series Champion

Howard slashed .313/.425/.659 with 58 home runs, 149 RBI and 108 walks during his 2006 MVP season. He hit 45 home runs in four straight seasons (2005-2009) and ranks 12th all-time on the single-season home run list thanks to 58 dingers in 2006.

From 2005 to 2011, nobody drove in more runs than Ryan Howard. 

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