Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Howie Schultz enjoyed a rare professional career that included both Major League Baseball and the NBA, showcasing remarkable versatility as a two-sport athlete. A dependable center during basketball’s early years, he combined size, rebounding, and physical play while leaving a unique place in American sports history.

Here is the detailed profile of Howie Schultz:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Howard Henry Schultz
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 3, 1922 (Passed away October 30, 2009, at the age of 87)
  • Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters)
  • Weight: 200 pounds (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #18 (in basketball)
  • Position: Forward / Center
  • High School: Central High School, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • College: Hamline University (did not finish due to joining professional sports)
  • NBA Draft: Not applicable (played before the NBA draft system was established)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Minneapolis Lakers (1949–1951)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (NBA Championship with Minneapolis Lakers in 1950)
  • Other Sports: Schultz was a dual-sport athlete, playing professional Major League Baseball as a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds.
  • Children: Information not publicly detailed
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Howie Schultz’s player archetype was an old-school swing big: a lean center-forward who looked built to fill gaps rather than dominate possessions. At 6’6″ and 200 pounds, with enough length to earn nicknames like “Stretch” and “Steeple,” he projected as a rangy frontcourt piece whose defensive role was to handle interior matchups, rebound his area, and give lineups size across the forward-center spots. Offensively, his offensive role was more complementary than primary, working as a secondary scorer and connective piece instead of a featured option; his listed positions, modest career production, and multi-team utility suggest a player who finished plays, kept the ball moving, and fit around stronger stars. In physical traits, he offered good height for his era, a relatively slim build, and enough mobility to toggle between frontcourt assignments. Put together, his play style summary reads like a tough, versatile support big who brought usable size, positional flexibility, and low-maintenance offense rather than high-volume creation. (NBA)

Scouting Report

The first thing you notice about Howie Schultz is that he was a classic interior scorer whose game revolved around touch, timing and knowing exactly how much space he needed. He wasn’t a centre who relied on constant physical dominance; instead, he used positioning, footwork and patience to create efficient opportunities near the basket. Schultz had a strong feel for the post, especially when establishing position early and forcing defenders to react rather than dictate the matchup. He could score with short hooks, pivots and controlled moves around the rim, but he also understood how to keep an offence flowing by setting screens, sealing smaller defenders and making himself available when guards created openings. The interesting thing is that his offensive value came from consistency. He rarely needed complicated actions drawn up for him. A simple entry pass, a well-timed cut or a favourable matchup was enough to make him dangerous. Defensively, Schultz played with physicality and awareness, using his size to protect the paint and battle bigger opponents. He was not a player who could erase mistakes with quick recovery speed, so teams needed him positioned correctly within the defensive structure. The trade-off was that his traditional style made him less comfortable defending in space against faster frontcourt players. His ideal role was as a dependable low-post option alongside perimeter creators who could feed him touches and benefit from his ability to occupy defenders inside. There are similarities to Jack Sikma in the way he combined skill and craft around the basket, while his interior scoring approach also shares traits with Bob Pettit. Schultz’s game was built on the details that have always mattered for big men: securing position, making defenders uncomfortable and turning small advantages into points.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Howie Schultz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status …
Basketball-Reference — Howie Schultz NBL Stats
NBA.com — Howie Schultz | Forward | Minneapolis Lakers
Society for American Baseball Research — Howie Schultz
Land of Basketball — NBA Players: Howie Schultz Profile and Basic Stats