| Home Run Baker | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Baker in 1921 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: March 13, 1886 Trappe, Maryland, U.S. | |
| Died: June 28, 1963 (aged 77) Trappe, Maryland, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1908, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1922, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .307 |
| Home runs | 96 |
| Runs batted in | 991 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1955 |
| Election method | Veterans Committee |
John Franklin "Home Run" Baker (March 13, 1886 – June 28, 1963) was an American professional baseball player. A third baseman, Baker played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1922 for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees. Although he never hit more than 12 home runs in a season and hit only 96 in his major league career, Baker has been called the "original home run king of the majors".[1]
Baker was a member of the Athletics' $100,000 infield. He helped the Athletics win the 1910, 1911 and 1913 World Series. After a contract dispute, the Athletics sold Baker to the Yankees, where he and Wally Pipp helped the Yankees' offense. Baker appeared with the Yankees in the 1921 and 1922 World Series, though the Yankees lost both series, before retiring.
Baker led the American League in home runs from 1911 to 1914. He had a batting average over .300 in six seasons, had three seasons with more than 100 runs batted in, and had two seasons with over 100 runs scored. Baker's legacy has grown over the years, and he is regarded by many as one of the best power hitters of the deadball era.[2] During his 13 years as a major league player, Baker never played a single inning at any position other than third base. Baker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1955.
- ^ "Home Run Baker Accepts Bid to Banquet Here: Oldtimers To Honor Swat King of Past". Reading Eagle. January 20, 1950. p. 20. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sabrwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).