Shaler native Art Howe returns home from Houston hospital after ICU stay for covid-19

After spending time in intensive care last week battling the coronavirus, Shaler native Art Howe returned to his Houston home Sunday and said he is “feeling a little bit better.”

Howe, 73, was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 24-year-old in 1971, and played second base and third base for the Pirates, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals in a 12-year major-league career. He spent 14 years as a manager for the Astros, Oakland A’s and New York Mets. Howe won 600 games in seven seasons in Oakland, and his teams reached the postseason three times in the “Moneyball” era.

Howe first experienced symptoms of covid-19 on May 3, and came up positive two days after being tested. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance last Tuesday.

Howe told multiple media outlets that he was experiencing “relief” to be back in his own bedroom, where he plans to isolate for the next week or two.

“It’s just sweet,” Howe said. “It was a long five days or so. I’m finally feeling a little bit better. Still not able to eat real good, taste buds are giving me a hard time. It’s just nice to be back home and hopefully continue to progress.”