As a “writer” for the Phillies, I have a habit of saving an inordinate amount of player photos on my laptop. A majority never get used, so every once in a while I like to sort through the various folders and clean them out. The other day while deleting some pics from Spring Training, I noticed a shot of what seemed to be a scar on Ryan Howard’s left arm. But upon closer inspection, that “scar” looked more like he had been branded. Being that I have zero Photoshop skills, I forwarded it to someone who does and asked him if he could zoom in on it.
Check out what I got back:
Yup, looks like a brand to me. How did this go unnoticed? What’s the significance?
After the jump, I’ll do my best to figure it out…
Back in the day, when he was a teenager, before he had status and before he had a pager Ryan Howard wasn’t a highly recruited baseball player like most future MVP’s. He was a kid from St. Louis on his way to Southwest Missouri State (which has since been shortened to plain ol’ Missouri State) who just happened to play baseball. Like a majority of college students, Ryan decided to join a fraternity. He chose to pledge with the Rho Chi Chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Sigma (ΦΒΣ), a predominately black organization with such famous alumni as George Washington Carver, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith & former Iggle “Arkansas” Fred Barnett.
Since it is somewhat commonplace for members of a black fraternity — especially a private chapter — to show their devotion by getting a brand, I’m gonna assume it has something to do with Phi Beta Sigma. I did about as much research as I possibly could to figure out exactly what the brand says, but I was unable to decipher it. I did, however, stumble upon this site that lists the various pledge classes for the Missouri State Rho Chi Brothers. If you scroll down to the section labeled, “Fall 2000 S.S. Disorderlies“ you’ll see the last two members listed are Ryan Howard and his twin brother, Corey. I know that doesn’t really explain much, but at least it’s something.
Now, how is it that the NL MVP has a brand covering his entire left upper-arm and it has (until now) gone undiscovered? You got me. All I know is since I came across this picture, I went back and studied every picture of Ryan Howard that I could find and not one of them show what’s underneath his left sleeve. As a matter of fact, the only other pic I saw that partially showed it was a Spring Training photo from last year. It seems the DriFit-type material of the Spring Training unis tend to move more freely allowing the possibility of a full-brand shot. Here is the other photo that shows the bottom of it and a rotated close-up of the original:
9 Comments on “Did You Know? Ryan Howard Is Branded.”
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General
October 13th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
The brand is a two greek letters (E) that are the signs for Sigma which is his fraternity that he choose to become a part of. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. Nothing more, nothing less
October 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
It is 2 of the greek letter “sigma” stacked on top of each other. Generally accepted as a pretty lame frat overall, but it shows his dedication. At least he has risen above his humble beginings.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Steve sounds like an Eternal Crescent
June 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am
If all these great black men are in then to Steve, I would like to be as “LAME” Are you sure you aren’t just a Hater who could not get in???
Science/Education/Medicine
Bro. George Washington Carver – Scientist & Educator
Bro. James Weldon Johnson – Educator, Poet & Composer of the “Black National Anthem”
Bro. Alan Leroy Locke – First African American Rhodes Scholar
Bro. Les Brown – Internationally recognized speaker, author and CEO of Les Brown Unlimited, Inc.
Bro. Louis Westerfield – First Black Head of The University of Mississippi School of Law
Entertainment
Bro. Blair Underwood – Actor (LA Law, Just Cause, Set It Off, Posse, etc.)
Bro. Morris Chestnut – Actor (Boyz In The Hood, Out All Night, Higher Learning, etc.)
Bro. Clarence Muse – Actor
Bro. Baba Olatunji – World Renowned Drummer
Bro. Joe Sample – World Renowned Pianist
Athletics
Bro. Emmit Smith – Pro Football
Bro. Willis Reed – Pro Basketball, Coach, General Manager
Bro. Karl Malone – Pro Basketball
Bro. James Washington – Pro Football
Bro. Lewis Tillman – Pro Football
Bro. L.C. Greenwood – Pro Football
Bro. Nate Newton – Pro Football
Bro. Willie Williams – Pro Football
Bro. Erik Williams – Pro Football
Bro. Tony Barton – World Class High Jumper
Bro. Jerry Rice – Pro Football
Bro. Renaldo Nehemiah – Olympic Champion
Bros. Maurice and Vernon White – Earth, Wind, and Fire
October 28th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I agree with you Alex. Steve does sound like an Eternal Crescent.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Not to mention Bro. Hines Ward of the Pittsburg Steelers
November 10th, 2009 at 7:51 am
i’m with the author, i’ve only just seen it this season but it’s nice to see big brown amongst all those wonderful black figures in history
February 25th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Dang Steve, you sound like a little b*&*&*
March 8th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
My my..such jealousy and hate……simply a relflection of insecurity and feelings of marginality…what a petty guy you are Steve. No manners here….