Home Run Baker

Infobox MLB retired
name=Home Run Baker
position=Third Baseman

---

bgcolor1=#dcdcdc
bgcolor2=#dcdcdc
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=black
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=March 13, 1886
city-state|Trappe|Maryland
deathdate=death date and age|1963|6|28|1886|3|13
city-state|Trappe|Maryland
debutdate= September 21
debutyear= 1908
debutteam= Philadelphia Athletics
finaldate=September 29
finalyear=1922
finalteam=New York Yankees
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.307
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=96
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=987
teams=
* Philadelphia Athletics (by|1908-by|1914)
* New York Yankees (by|1916-by|1919, by|1921-by|1922)
highlights=
* World Series Champion: 1910, 1911, 1913
* American League pennant: 1914, 1921, 1922
* American League home run champion: 1911-1914
* American League RBI champion: 1912, 1913
* 6 seasons with a .300+ batting average
* 3 seasons with 100+ RBI
* 2 seasons with 100+ runs scored
hofdate=by|1955
hofmethod=Veteran's Committee

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

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. His home run crown would be the first of four consecutive seasons leading the American League in home runs. He hit 11 HR in 1911, 10 HR in 1912, 12 HR in 1913, and 9 HR in 1914. Two of those seasons, he also led the American League in runs batted in.

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

Initially, Baker retired in 1920, but came back to play two more seasons with the Yankees, seasons that took him to two more World Series.

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 by|1955. In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book "The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time".

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
* Hitting for the cycle
* List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
* List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records
* List of Major League Baseball home run champions
* List of Major League Baseball triples champions
* Major League Baseball titles leaders

External links

*
*
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Baker.Frank.Obit.html The Deadball Era]