Surgery Reveals a Malignancy in Howser’s Brain Tumor : Only Partial Removal Is Made

Dick Howser, manager of the World Series champion Kansas City Royals, underwent surgery Tuesday for a brain tumor, but doctors were able to remove only part of the tumor and said that it was malignant.

The tumor was only partly removed because the doctors were afraid of damaging the brain, said Dr. Paul Meyer, the baseball team’s physician. Doctors did not know Tuesday how they would treat the remainder of the tumor, although radiation therapy was one possibility.

Dr. Charles Clough, the neurosurgeon who performed the operation at St. Luke’s Hospital, said the tumor was found in the left frontal lobe of Howser’s brain and that it appeared to be a type of tumor called a glioma or primary tumor.

Primary tumors are commonly treated with radiation therapy. Dr. Robert Morantz, a Kansas City neurologist, told the Kansas City Star last week that primary tumors are the most deadly and the most difficult to remove.

Clough estimated that a complete report would be available in two or three days. “Our therapy as to where we go from here will depend on that pathology report,” he said.

Clough said that Howser’s wife, Nancy, was in the recovery room with the 50-year-old manager, who was said to be awake and alert and able to move his limbs.

“He was very alert and he knew Nancy,” Royal President Joe Burke said.

Howser, who guided the Royals to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series, was admitted to St. Luke’s last Thursday night. Just 48 hours earlier, he had managed the American League to a 3-2 victory over the National League in the All-Star game at Houston.

Howser had complained for two weeks of a stiff, sore neck, and associates said he had begun showing signs of mental confusion. During the All-Star game itself, said Mike Ferraro, one of his coaches, Howser “was totally out of it . . . not . . . with it at all.”

The tumor was discovered by a CAT scan on Friday morning.

Howser was a shortstop with Cleveland, Kansas City and the New York Yankees during an eight-year playing career beginning in 1961. He retired after the 1968 season and for 10 years was third base coach for the Yankees.

In 1980, Howser’s first year as a manager, the Yankees won 103 games and the American League East title but were swept in the playoffs by the Royals. Howser was fired by the Yankees, then took over the Royals midway through the 1981 season.

The Royals finished second in the American League West the next two years, won the division title in 1984 and beat the Toronto Blue Jays for the pennant last year. Howser’s overall managing record is 507-425.

President Reagan sent a get-well message to Howser as the manager was being prepared for surgery.

“We just want to add our voices to those of your many friends and fans in sending good wishes for a complete and speedy recovery,” the telegram said. “We’ll be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.”

A Royal spokesman said that Reagan also called St. Luke’s shortly before 11 a.m. “There was a call from the White House, but the President did not speak with Dick,” the spokesman said.