Ryan Howard is a former professional baseball player who played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was born on November 19, 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri. Howard made his MLB debut in 2004 and quickly became known for his powerful hitting, earning the National League MVP award in 2006. During his career, Howard was a key player for the Phillies, helping the team win the World Series in 2008. He was a three-time All-Star and finished his career with over 380 home runs. Howard retired from professional baseball in 2016.