Howard Maple (July 20, 1903 – November 9, 1970) earned the distinction of being the only Oregon State (then OAC) alum to ever play in both the NFL and Major Leagues after graduating from the school in 1928.
A Midwest native, Maple came to Oregon Agricultural College and lettered from 1926-28, earning recognition as a second-team All-American following his senior season and All-Coast twice. During his years in Corvallis, the Beavers were a combined 16-7-1, with three of the losses coming to USC. The great coach Knute Rockne called Maple "The ideal quarterback".
Maple also played catcher for the Aggie baseball team and went on to play both sports professionally. Howard played eight games with the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL in 1930 as a wingback. That was the year he began playing minor league baseball as well. He played in over 400 minor league games before joining the Washington Senators at age 28.
In 1932, Maple hit .244 in 44 games and was perfect defensively behind the plate in his only MLB season. He played three more seasons and briefly managed in the minors before retiring. Howard returned to Oregon, coaching both OAC and Willamette. At Willamette, Maple was head track and basketball coach and a football assistant. The 1939 Bearcat basketball team won the Northwest Conference and produced four All-Conference selections.
He served in the US Army during World War II and, again, came back to Oregon, one of his post-war careers was managing the Oregon State Fair from 1957-1967.
Howard Maple was inducted into the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. He is also a member of the Peoria (IL) Hall of Fame.