Frank Baker
(Home Run) |
| B:
Mar 13, 1886 |
Trappe, Maryland |
| D: Jun 28, 1963 |
Trappe, Maryland
|
|
| Bats |
Left |
| Throws |
Right |
| Height |
5'11" |
| Weight |
173 lbs. |
| Seasons |
13 |
|
|
|
Biography / Info
|
- Frank played baseball from 1908-1922. He missed 2 entire
seasons.
- Baker played 1548 games as a third baseman. Known as a
steady defensive player, he never played any other
position. He led the circuit in an array of defensive
categories, including 7 times in putouts for third
basemen.
- He played most of his career in the dead-ball era but
managed to lead the American League in home runs 4 times.
- Batted .363 in 25 World Series games.
|
|
His Playing Days
|
- 1909: Baker led the league in triples. On the defensive
side, he led the league in assists and putouts for his
position.
- 1910: Rounding out only his second full season in the bigs,
Baker and the A's make it to the World Series. He bats .409
during the 5 game triumph over the Cubs. Led league in double
plays and putouts.
- 1911: Here his "Home Run" nickname was born.
During the World Series against the Giants, he hit crucial
home runs on successive days to help the A's win games 2 and
3. The first was a 2 run homer off of Rube Marquard which
broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. The next day, Baker
tagged Giant's icon Christy Mathewson in the 9th inning to
tie the game at 1. The A's went on to win the game 3-2 in 11
innings.
- 1912: Tied for the home run crown and was first in double
plays for third basemen.
- 1913-1914: Led league in home runs and putouts both
seasons.
- 1915: Sat out the entire season in a salary dispute with
Connie Mack
- 1916: Mack had been selling off his key players, and after
the season holdout, Mack sold Baker to the Yankees for a
reported $35,000.
- 1920: Sat out the entire season with the illness and
subsequent death of his wife.
- 1921: The time away from the game and the Yankees powerful
lineup were factors for reduced playing time.
- 1922: The Yankees acquire 25 year old third baseman Joe
Dugan from the Red Sox, depressing his playing time even
more. He grounds out as a pinch hitter in his finals major
league at bat during the World Series.
|
|
Post Major League
|
- 1924-1925: Managed the Easton club of the Eastern Shore
League. While there he was manager of a 16 year old
prospect. He would soon recommend the kid to A's
owner/manager Connie Mack. That player's name was
Jimmie Foxx.
|
|
Hall of Fame
|
- 1955: Much to his surprise, Baker was inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
|
|
Career Batting Statistics
|
| Year |
Team |
Lg |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
AVG |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
CS |
BB |
IBB |
HBP |
SO |
| 1908 |
PHL |
AL |
9 |
31 |
5 |
9 |
.290 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1909 |
PHL |
AL |
148 |
541 |
73 |
165 |
.305 |
27 |
19 |
4 |
85 |
20 |
0 |
26 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| 1910 |
PHL |
AL |
146 |
561 |
83 |
159 |
.283 |
25 |
15 |
2 |
74 |
21 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| 1911 |
PHL |
AL |
148 |
592 |
96 |
198 |
.334 |
42 |
14 |
11 |
115 |
38 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| 1912 |
PHL |
AL |
149 |
577 |
116 |
200 |
.347 |
40 |
21 |
10 |
130 |
40 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
| 1913 |
PHL |
AL |
149 |
564 |
116 |
190 |
.336 |
34 |
9 |
12 |
117 |
34 |
0 |
63 |
0 |
10 |
31 |
| 1914 |
PHL |
AL |
150 |
570 |
84 |
182 |
.319 |
23 |
10 |
9 |
89 |
19 |
20 |
53 |
0 |
3 |
37 |
| 1915 |
Did not play
|
| 1916 |
NYY |
AL |
100 |
360 |
46 |
97 |
.269 |
23 |
2 |
10 |
52 |
15 |
0 |
36 |
0 |
5 |
30 |
| 1917 |
NYY |
AL |
146 |
553 |
57 |
156 |
.282 |
24 |
2 |
6 |
71 |
18 |
0 |
48 |
0 |
5 |
27 |
| 1918 |
NYY |
AL |
126 |
504 |
65 |
154 |
.306 |
24 |
5 |
6 |
62 |
8 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
2 |
13 |
| 1919 |
NYY |
AL |
141 |
567 |
70 |
166 |
.293 |
22 |
1 |
10 |
83 |
13 |
0 |
44 |
0 |
2 |
18 |
| 1920 |
Did not play
|
| 1921 |
NYY |
AL |
94 |
330 |
46 |
97 |
.294 |
16 |
2 |
9 |
71 |
8 |
5 |
26 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
| 1922 |
NYY |
AL |
69 |
234 |
30 |
65 |
.278 |
12 |
3 |
7 |
36 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
|
|
