1969 Frank Howard Nestle's Quik Commercial

Update: Frank Cumberland contacted us to let everyone know that MASN's Phil Wood first alerted him on the Hondo Nestle's Quik Commercial.



After the conclusion of yesterday's game, Nationals Fan Frank Cumberland, Sohna and I were chatting about how wonderful My Favorite Player Of All Time!! Frank Howard was to every single fan he encountered at NatsFest 2011 this past Wednesday at Nationals Park. All three of us agreed, Hondo is a great ambassador for the sport in the Washington, D.C. area.

He gets it.

This long conversion eventually led to Frank Cumberland bringing up the famous Nestle's Quik Commercial from 1969 when Howard was in his prime slugging baseball after baseball out every park in the American League for The Washington Senators. Having personally not seen the video in decades, Frank Cumberland says that someone (MASN's Phil Wood) told him Hondo's Nestle's Quik Commercial was recently placed on YouTube.

And sure enough--it's all there in all its glory (a little down in picture quality though).

In the 30 second ad, Frank Howard is wearing the transitional uniform The Senators wore in 1968 and for Spring Training 1969.  The uniform shirt and pants depicted are the blue pinstripe versions with red "Senators" across the front worn with the blue cap with Red Curly "W" and red stripes down the crown in the Mid-1960's. For 1968 and Spring Training 1969, Washington wore red sleeves, red stirrups and red caps and White Curly "W" with that pinstripe uniform.

When the regular season in 1969 began (Ted Williams' Rookie Year As Manager), The Senators switched to off-white (cream color) home jerseys with script "Senators" across the front and a 100th Anniversary of Baseball patch on the left sleeve. No pinstripes anymore.

A few things of note in the video:

He is wearing Number 9, his original uniform number with Washington before Ted Williams took it for the 1969 season and Frank switched to Number 33.

Look at how large Frank Howard's Curly "W" is on his red batting helmet with no ear flap. It's huge.

Notice how big Hondo is compared to the catcher.

And don't miss his classic all or nothing swing. Frank Howard ropes that pitch like a missile down the left field line. That was Hondo's power unleashed.

Great stuff to see again for the first time. This ad brings back fond, fond memories of Hondo and my trips to D.C. later renamed RFK Stadium in the late 60's and early 70's.

Enjoy!!