Home Run Baker

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Born on a farm in March of 1886, in Trappe Maryland to a mother who's distant relative was Robert E. Lee, Baker played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1922 for the Philadelphia A's and NY Yankees.

Baker has been called the "original Home Run king of the majors" and was part of the Athletics $100,000 infield helping the A's win the World Series in 1910, 1911 and 1913. Baker is widely considered the best power hitter of the dead ball era leading the American league in home runs for four consecutive years from 1911 to 1914. After a contract dispute, the A's sold Baker to the Yankees where he helped them get to the World Series in 1921 and 1922 but the Yankees lost both series after which Baker retired.

Baker never played a single inning in his 13 year professional career anywhere but 3rd base and was elected to the Hall of Fame by the veteran's committee in 1955.

Show em!

#2 card in the 1914 and 15 Cracker Jack set

[brianp-beme]

If all Frank Baker cards were like this his nickname would have more accurately been "Single" Baker.

Brian

[HRBAKER]

[Jobu]

I don't have a Baker card at the moment, but wanted to add the story of his nickname. It actually didn't come from season or career home run totals but rather from a single World Series and a lot of rain. To Wikipedia for the story:

In the 1911 World Series, the Athletics faced off against the Giants. Based on Baker's past run-in with Cobb, Giants' players believed they could intimidate him. Fred Snodgrass spiked Baker while sliding into third base in Game One, knocking the ball loose and requiring Baker to bandage his arm. In Game Two, Baker hit a go-ahead home run off Rube Marquard. He hit a ninth-inning game-tying home run off Christy Mathewson in Game Three. Later in the game, Snodgrass again attempted to spike Baker, but he was able to hold onto the ball.[2] A six-day delay between games as a result of rain, which turned Shibe Park into a "virtual quagmire", allowed Baker's feats to be magnified by the Philadelphia press, during which time, he began to be referred to by the nickname "Home Run".

[jb217676]

A couple more Baker cards...

[mechanicalman]

T206

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by jb217676

A couple more Baker cards...

I always love the Home Run Baker Reading (Pa.) postcard. I live 20 minutes away from Reading and that my local minor league town.

[PSACJ]

Baker.jpg

[MGHPro]

Baker kork grip bat

[ruth-gehrig]

Baker Pro Model Decal Bat
34 inches
43.8 oz

[gabrinus]

Here's one I sold to a fellow board member.........Jerry

[oldphil]

Don't normally collect autographs but picked this up a few years ago.

[PiratesWS1979]

Originally Posted by gabrinus

Here's one I sold to a fellow board member.........Jerry

Love the Red Cross! I didn't know those existed until I saw one in REA.