Often considered the best third baseman of the 1910s, Frank "Home Run" Baker was a superstar for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees. Baker was not a true slugger, yet he earned his nickname during the 1911 World Series, when he hit a go-ahead homer off Rube Marquard in Game 2 and a ninth-inning game-tying homer off Christy Mathewson in Game 3. Baker was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 by the Veterans Committee.
I completed this sketch card in June 2012.
10 random facts about Frank "Home Run" Baker:
- After his playing days were over, he was credited with discovering fellow Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx.
- Over his 13-year Major League career, Baker never played a single big league inning at any position other than third base.
- In 1909, he led MLB in triples with 19.
- He was part of Connie Mack's famous "$100,000 infield".
- He led the American League in homers for 4 seasons during the Dead Ball Era- hitting 11, 10, 12 and 9 home runs in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, respectively.
- Baker was a .307 lifetime hitter.
- Initially, Baker retired in 1920, but would come back to play 2 more seasons with the Yankees; he would go to the World Series in each of these 2 seasons.
- Following his retirement as a player, Baker would manage for two seasons in the Eastern Shore Baseball League in 1924 and 1925.
- Baker has a statue erected in his honor at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
- Born in Trappe, MD, Baker was a butcher by trade.
No comments:
Post a Comment