Frank Baker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Two other men named Frank Baker played Major League Baseball:

Frank Watts Baker (b. October 29, 1946 in Meridian, Mississippi) was an infielder for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in the early 1970s. Baseball-Reference.com
Frank Baker (b. January 11, 1944 in Bartow, Florida) was an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians in 1969 and 1971. Baseball-Reference.com

John Franklin "Home Run" Baker (March 13, 1886 - June 28, 1963) was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1922. As a third baseman, Baker helped the Philadelphia Athletics win three World Series (1910, 1911 and 1913). His legacy has grown over the years and is regarded by many as the best third baseman of the pre-war era.

Home Run Baker baseball card, 1911

Baker, who led the American League in home runs in 1911, earned the nickname "Home Run" during the 1911 World Series in which he hit a go-ahead home run off Rube Marquard in game two and a ninth-inning game-tying home run off Christy Mathewson in game three. Baker then solidified the nickname by leading the American League in home runs for three more consecutive seasons. Two of those seasons, he also led the American League in runs batted in.

Frank Baker
is a member of
the Baseball
Hall of Fame

He was born in Trappe, Maryland, was a butcher by trade, and broke into the major leagues in 1908 with the Philadelphia Athletics. Baker played third base for the Athletics until 1915, when he sat out the entire season in a contract dispute. He was sold in 1916 to the New York Yankees, with whom he finished his career.

Following his retirement, Baker managed for two seasons (1924-25) in the Eastern Shore Baseball League and was credited with discovering Jimmie Foxx and recommending him to Connie Mack.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.