Former A’s manager Art Howe battling coronavirus in Houston

Former Oakland Athletics’ Manager Art Howe is in the ICU battling the coronavirus in Houston, Texas.

Art Howe, who spent seven years as the manager of the Oakland Athletics and led the club to two American League West titles, is battling the coronavirus in an intensive care unit in the Houston area.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Howe said that he had gone to the hospital earlier this week but couldn’t remember the exact day. “The time sort of all runs together when you’re isolated like this,” he admitted.

Before coming down with the illness, the 73-year-old had been self-isolating in his Houston-area home with his wife, Betty Howe. He started feeling weak and getting the chills last Wednesday and was taken to the hospital via ambulance earlier this week. “It got to the point where it was all I could do to sit in a chair, didn’t even ever want to get up,” Howe said. “No energy to move and no desire to move.”

Betty, who has not seen her husband since he was taken to the hospital, is still isolating in their home and has not tested positive for the virus.

“You don’t want to have this; you don’t want to know what it’s like,” Howe said. “I’m hoping I’m on the other side of this.”

Howe began managing the A’s in 1996, after a four-year stint with the Houston Astros. Howe didn’t finish the season with a winning-record until 1999, but once he made it above .500, he stayed there. From 1999-2003, Howe led the A’s to four playoff appearances and two American League West titles. He spent the final year of his managing career with the New York Mets.

In addition to managing, Howe spent 11 years in the league as a player. He spent most of that time with the Houston Astros, with one-year stints in Pittsburgh and St. Louis as well. Howe worked on the coaching staff of the Texas Rangers on two separate occasions and spent one year (1995) coaching with the Colorado Rockies.

For now, Howe is just focused on getting home and staying safe.

“All I want to do at this point is to get home,” Howe said. “I’d still be quarantined, but I’d be at home and I’d be with Betty. I’m really looking forward to that.”