CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile: Jay Howell

It's Hall of Fame Week for Colorado Athletics! The 11-member Class of 2018 will be inducted on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Boedecker Gym in the CU Events Center, and will be recognized at Saturday's football game against Washington State at 1:30 p.m. Our seventh CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile is former Colorado baseball pitcher, Jay Howell.

Colorado alumni from years ago remember the smell of the dirt at Prentup Field. They remember getting ready to watch their Buffaloes take on various Big 8 opponents along with thoroughly enjoying their peanuts and Crackerjack. And some remember the opportunity to enjoy watching the baseball phenomenon who would go on to win a World Series ring and appear in three separate All-Star games, Jay Howell.

Born in Miami, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound, right-hander found his love for the game playing Little League ball. Every year, he and his grandfather would attend spring training in Miami, where he instantly knew that he wanted to be in the majors. At the age of 12, his family relocated to Boulder, where he continued his baseball career and ended up playing for Fairview High School.

Upon being drafted in the 12th round the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, he had a difficult choice to make. He could go straight into professional baseball and work his way to the majors, or he could postpone professional baseball and play for in his hometown and represent the Colorado Buffaloes.

He loved growing up in Boulder and playing baseball in town, but suffered a severe cartilage tear in his knee during high school that limited him to pitching. Howell saw the benefit of healing and developing his skills in college, so he chose to attend the University of Colorado.

"I wouldn't have made it in the big leagues if I didn't play at CU first," Howell said. " It helped me develop my game and prepared me for the competition through the minors."

Howell had solid numbers every year he pitched for the Buffaloes while never surrendering an ERA over 3.00, including a 1.90 ERA and 10-4 record in 1976. He also had three shutouts that season.

Howell loved his time at CU, stating that it was different playing in the variable weather conditions that Boulder offered.

"Half of the games we played were in really rugged conditions," he said.

Clearly, the weather didn't stop from performing on the mound. He also loved that he could play in front of his family, where his dad would be present every single game wearing his big cowboy hat.

"I loved having my dad there to watch me," Howell said. "Everyone knew who he was from his cowboy hat."

Upon finishing at CU, he was again drafted by the Reds and spent the next three seasons moving through the minor leagues, from Tampa to Nashville, then from Nashville to Indianapolis. Upon making his debut with the Reds on August 10, 1980, in the eighth inning he faced his future franchise, one for whom he would become the reliable closer, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Facing the 4-5-6 batters in his first time taking the MLB mound, he walked Steve Garvey, then proceeded to induce the next three batters to ground out, giving up zero runs or hits. Although the Reds fell to the Dodgers 7-1 in that game, it was clear a new star had arrived.

He would then spend the next five years gaining experience until 1983, when he pitched in 82 innings for the New York Yankees and found his role as a reliable MLB closer. Jay loved wearing the pinstripes, but in 1985 he was traded to Oakland, where he spent three seasons. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, and he helped his team to a World Series win over Oakland that season.

Of all his time in the majors, he said his time with the Dodgers was the most memorable, when he had the opportunity to play for manager Tommy Lasorda.

"His thing was, 'You've got to believe,'" Howell said.

Howell spoke to the true character of Lasorda, and the legend in baseball he became. Howell said he never saw a better motivational speaker, and Lasorda was a man he strived to follow the footsteps of.

Along with his endorsement of Lasorda's character, he talked all about his coaches from the past and their mottos.

Previous CU coach and 1997 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductee Irv Brown would say, "You've got to know how to be a team and you've got to know how to compete."

Tony La Russa, a 2013 MLB Hall of Fame inductee, had the motto, "You've got to prepare."

And, two-time World Series winning manager Bobby Cox's ability and commitment to "always having your back" gave Howell a platform to succeed.

Howell played with the Dodgers until 1992. He then played for the Atlanta Braves in 1993 and finished his career with the Texas Rangers in 1994.

Upon completing his MLB career, he coached Cal State Northridge from 1998 until 2005 and helped lead the Matadors to two Big Sky Conference Championships.

As of now, he ranks 56th all-time in career saves and 67th in games finished.

Howell appreciates the memories and experiences he accumulated over his time playing baseball. Now, he focuses time primarily on his family and his business. He has two nephews that have graduated from CU Boulder, along with having a current nephew in his senior year there as well. Jay also has a relative, Martha LaForge ,who worked as a graduate coordinator in the previous Colorado Journalism School for over two decades.

For work, Jay is a part owner of a hemp extraction facility in Arvada. The company is named Z3 Sciences and his brother, Harper, is a co-owner as well. They focus primarily on the CBD oil business. Z3 Sciences is partnered with F2P Industries, also based in Arvada.

Jay and his wife make their home just outside of Atlanta. His wife, Linda, owns a Pilates studio and they have a daughter, Dana, who works in the healthcare industry in California. He also has two step-sons, Lucas and Nick, who live in the Atlanta area and are executive directors for a high-end pool design company.

Howell still tries to stay involved with Colorado alumni charity events, and cheers on the Buffs at every opportunity.

Although the baseball program has been gone for decades, the memories and stories will continue to ring down the halls of the campus. Previous student-athlete legends like Jay Howell have proven that the history of baseball is rich at the University of Colorado and will always be remembered.

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