Howard J. Earl (February 25, 1869 â December 23, 1916), nicknamed "Slim Jim", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He played two seasons in the majors, a full season in for the Chicago Colts, and then for the Milwaukee Brewers, who were a midseason replacement team in the American Association.
Earl's minor league baseball career spanned 22 seasons, from with the Boston Blues of the New England League until with the Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags of the New York State League. From onward, he served as player-manager at each stop. During the latter part of his career he shifted from the outfield to first base.