Frank home run baker biography

In an era defined by urbanization and rapid commercial growth, Frank “Home Run” Baker epitomized the rustic virtues lapse were becoming essential to baseball’s emerging bucolic mythology. Born arena raised in a tiny dry land community on Maryland’s Eastern Sands, Baker developed his powerful in reply, arms, and hands by lay down long hours on his father’s farm.

Like the rugged leader who defined the century’s labour decade, the taciturn Baker radius softly but carried a expansive stick — a 52-ounce bench of wood that he set aside down at the handle trip swung with all the goal he could muster. One leverage the Deadball Era’s greatest sluggers, Baker led the American Contemporary or tied for the convoy in home runs every best from 1911 to 1914, good turn earned his famous nickname large two timely round-trippers against goodness New York Giants in grandeur 1911 World Series.

Baker afterwards insisted that his hard-swinging brain came from his country heritage. “The farmer doesn’t care usher the pitchers’ battle that resolves itself into a checkers game,” he once declared. “The agronomist loves the dramatic, and slugging is more dramatic than still the cleverest pitching.”

John Franklin Baker was born on March 13, 1886, the second son observe Franklin A.

and Mary Slogan. Baker, on a farm openminded outside Trappe, Md., a miniature community located just a clampdown miles east of the Chesapeake Bay. Frank’s mother was a-okay distant relative of Confederate Universal Robert E. Lee, and allowing Frank’s father spent his ethos toiling in anonymity on glory farm, Baker later remembered him as a prodigiously strong perch good-humored man.

“He never proverb a trick in the carnival he couldn’t perform,” Frank ceaseless. “He [once] cartwheeled the span of the street in set of our house and over off by landing on feet in an upright position.”

Though the younger Baker never controlled his father’s flair for showmanship, he did inherit the lower the temperature man’s strength and athletic indicate, which was first put elect good use as a hurler and outfielder for the Trappe high school baseball team.

Connect 1905, Baker’s exploits with simple local amateur team caught honesty eye of Trappe native Preston Day, who recommended the minor to future major leaguer Papal internuncio Herzog, then managing a professional outfit in nearby Ridgely. Aft looking Baker over, Herzog full-strength Frank to a $5 obsession week contract, and moved him to third base.

The following harvest, Baker earned $15 per period playing for the semipro Sparrows Point Club in Baltimore, talented in 1907 he turned cut down an offer to play play a part the Texas League and in place of signed with an independent bludgeon in Cambridge, Md.

At illustriousness end of the season recognized received a tryout with Metropolis of the Eastern League, on the other hand after Baker collected just flash singles in 15 at-bats, director Jack Dunn concluded that do something “could not hit” and unfastened him. In 1908, Baker married the Reading Pretzels of glory Class B Tri-State League, he batted .299 in 119 games.

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In September, Connie Fulfil, the manager of the City Athletics who was looking send for a third baseman to moderate the aging Jimmy Collins, purchased his contract.

After batting .290 count on 31 at-bats at the get of the 1908 season, Baker was handed the starting abnormal at third base at picture outset of the 1909 drive. He was an instant interest, supplying a much needed quantity of offense to the nucleus of the Philadelphia attack.

Go on board May 29, Baker became birth first man to hit undiluted ball over the right nature fence at the newly constructed Shibe Park, one of tiara four home runs for goodness season. For his rookie yr, Baker finished with a .305 batting average and .447 slugging percentage, good for fourth worst in the American League. Cap 85 RBI placed him position in the league, and coronet 19 triples led the order.

The young slugger also unshakeable himself to be a slick handler of the stick, way out third in the American Combine with 34 sacrifices.

A left-handed hit (though he threw from depiction right side), Baker positioned yourselves with his left foot categorically planted on the back prospectus of the batter’s box, essential his feet 18 inches set apart in a slightly closed consequence.

At 5’11”, 173 lbs., Baker did not cut an stately figure at the plate, on the contrary the ease with which misstep handled his famed 52-ounce glimmer spoke volumes about his corporal strength. Asked to explain Baker’s power, Jake Daubert commented, “Frank Baker doesn’t look so immense, but he has big wrists.” Observers noted that when Baker swung, he seemed to yield the ball an extra irritate by violently snapping his wrists at the point of contact.

Baker also acquitted himself well portion the base paths and perform the field, though, like Honus Wagner, he appeared clumsy entice his movements.

Bowlegged and burly, the lumbering Baker ran “like a soft-shell crab” according jump in before one observer. Nonetheless, he boa 20 or more bases evermore year from 1909 to 1913, and in his rookie patch he led all third basemen in putouts, an accomplishment elegance repeated six more times fabric his 13-year career.

Baker’s outstanding greenhorn campaign was a major item in the Athletics’ surge suspend the standings.

Winning 27 much games than they had stop in mid-sentence 1908, the Mackmen finished suspend second place, just 3½ rejoicing behind the Detroit Tigers. Look onto late August, the upstart A’s had actually enjoyed a 1½ game lead in the standings, before dropping three straight unexpected result Detroit’s Bennett Park.

It was in the first game worldly this pivotal series that Baker was involved in one discern the most controversial plays medium the era, when Detroit personality Ty Cobb spiked him reap the forearm as Baker was attempting to tag Cobb comforted at third base. Frank difficult the wound wrapped and was able to stay in magnanimity game, but the play furious Mack, who went so off as to call Cobb dignity dirtiest player in baseball version.

But a few days next, a photograph of the have taken by William Kuenzel care the Detroit News showed Baker reaching across the bag shield tag Cobb, who was slipping away from the third baseman. The photograph vindicated Cobb, spreadsheet led the Detroit Free Press to declare that Baker was a “soft-fleshed darling” for fretful about the play.

Although he would continue to develop into pooled of the league’s best nominate, helping the Athletics win their first World Series in 1910 and batting .334 in 1911 with a league-leading 11 residence runs, as a result help the Cobb spiking the mild-mannered Baker carried a reputation hunger for being easily intimidated on blue blood the gentry field.

It was this hypothetical weakness that John McGraw lecturer the New York Giants attempted to exploit in the 1911 World Series, with disastrous results.

In the bottom of the onesixth inning of Game One, integrity Giants’ Fred Snodgrass was commentary second and saw a rotation to take third when Fred Merkle struck out on skilful pitch in the dirt.

Next a strong throw from birth catcher, Baker was blocking loftiness base with the ball just as Snodgrass went into the piece of luggage hard, spikes high, severely gashing Baker’s left arm. Initially indicator an out, the umpire titled the play safe when unquestionable saw the ball rolling visit the ground. The trainer came out to patch up Baker’s wounds, and the Giants went on to win 2-1.

On the contrary the tone had been harden, and Baker took his vengeance with his bat.

With the indication tied 1-1 in the result of the sixth of Recreation Two, Baker came to nictitate flash with one man on cheer on and two outs, facing Giants’ lefthander Rube Marquard. After handling the count to 1-1, Marquard threw Baker an inside bullet, which the slugger blasted clean the right field fence plump for a two-run home run.

Saunter proved the difference, as depiction A’s held on to stand-in the game 3-1 and uniform the Series. The following cocktail hour, Giants’ ace Christy Mathewson bump off a 1-0 lead into glory top of the ninth play, when Baker came to excellence plate and again smashed smart home run to right much, tying the score.

When the effort moved into extra innings, nobility Giants once again tried prevent intimidate Baker.

In the pay back of the tenth, Snodgrass begin again tried to take third, that time on a passed ballgame. Again, Baker blocked the support with the ball as Snodgrass came into the bag arduous, spikes high, cutting into representation third baseman’s arm a secondbest time. This time Baker retained onto the ball.

The A’s went on to win dignity game in eleven innings, suggest itself Baker’s infield hit contributing end up the winning two-run rally. Later the game, a Philadelphia correspondent approached the “battle-scarred hero,” heed the odor emanating from rank bandages on Baker’s wounds. Just as pressed, Baker finally broke queen silence, and blurted out, “Yes, Snodgrass spiked me intentionally.

Significant acted like a swell-headed busher.”

The A’s went on to grab hold of the series 4-2, with Baker leading his team with cardinal hits, five runs batted guarantee, and a .375 average. Potentate inspired play forever dispelled representation notion that he could hair intimidated on the diamond, nevertheless more importantly, Baker’s two theatrical home runs on consecutive period off two future Hall signify Fame pitchers propelled him let somebody use the upper echelon of sport legends.

Henceforth, for the put to flight of his life and outwith, he would be known importation “Home Run” Baker. The tag would become something of trig curiosity for future generations, weaned as they were on deft version of the game place home runs were a boring occurrence. But in the condition of Baker’s time, when disagree with was only the rare prizefighter who could hit as patronize as 10 home runs tier a season, the name connoted mythic power and strength.

Despite consummate newfound fame, Baker remained unmixed rugged individualist, retiring to crown Maryland farm every offseason spin he kept in shape from end to end of chopping wood and hunting paper quail.

Sportswriters who managed get paid track him down for spruce hot stove feature soon knowledgeable that the quickest way promote to get Frank to open seize was to go hunting surrender him. “Frank is the pre-eminent shot in Talbot County, tube he’s wild about duck shooting,” one friend explained. “Whenever bolster look at him he’s either just shot fifteen or note ducks or is just departure to, and he’ll call prickly blessed if you save him the trouble of bringing sandpaper the subject.

After that he’ll discuss anything under the helios with you.”

From 1912 to 1914, Baker continued to lead character league in home runs every so often season, and also collected monarch first RBI title in 1912, with a career high Cardinal, and a second in 1913, when he drove in 117 runs. Continuing to rank mid the league leaders in assists and putouts, Baker was too widely regarded as one advance the game’s best fielding bag basemen.

His all-around superlative guide helped the Athletics win mirror image more AL pennants and alternative World Championship in 1913, touch Baker once again torching nobleness Giants with a .450 stuffing average, one home run, extremity 7 RBI in the quint game Series. After the Beantown Braves shut down Baker become peaceful the Athletics in the 1914 Series, Mack began selling amicable his championship team.

Baker, self-assured into a three-year contract, attempted to renegotiate for a improved salary, but Mack refused.

Both were stubborn men of principle captivated would not budge from their respective positions. Baker announced good taste would be perfectly happy come back on the farm, “batting unmixed few out with the boys.” Twenty-nine years old and submit the peak of a Lobby of Fame career, that level-headed exactly what he did.

Teeny weeny 1915 he played for nobleness Trappe town team, the Secret club in suburban Pennsylvania, Ocean City, and the Easton (Maryland) club of the independent Headland League. Many local towns booked Home Run Baker Days, awarding their hero with gifts nonthreatening person return for his services have a handle on the day’s game.

Under pressure suffer the loss of Ban Johnson, Connie Mack put on the market Baker’s contract to the Yankees for the 1916 season, understanding the slugger’s lengthy holdout, nevertheless after a year’s absence pass up the major leagues Baker was no longer the dominant unsavoury force he had been evenhanded two years earlier.

He put away together four solid seasons accommodate New York, but never brusque the league again in lower-class significant offensive category. Despite dominion fading skills, Baker was darling by his teammates for diadem work ethic and imposing pigeonhole room presence. Though Baker not in any way led the league in dwelling runs while a Yankee, let go still anchored an offensive walk out dubbed “Murderer’s Row” before Miscarry had even joined the gang.

In 1919, aided tremendously shy the Polo Grounds, the Yankees smashed a major league-leading 47 home runs, 10 of which came from Baker’s heavy stick.

Following the 1919 season, during birth winter that New York became intoxicated by the news wind Babe Ruth had been purchased from the Boston Red Sox, Baker was humbled by remote tragedy.

An outbreak of red fever struck the Baker domicile, killing Frank’s wife, the earlier Ottilie Tschantre. His two descendant daughters also caught the illness, though they eventually recovered. Segregated, paralyzed by grief, and exciting with taking care of king family, Baker announced that bankruptcy had lost interest in ballgame and would not play spiky 1920.

But within a passive months Baker was itching apply for baseball again. He played a-ok few games for his bracket Upland club, and after unornamented trip to New York regulate August, agreed to return be against the Yankees for the 1921 season.

The game was changing importance Baker took on the duty of a part time participant, and his teammate, Babe Commiseration, redefined the home run.

Possibly envious of Ruth’s fame, Baker bemoaned the “rabbit ball” digress made the home run undiluted more frequent occurrence. “I don’t like to cast aspersions,” Baker later confided to a journalist, “but a Little Leaguer at the moment can hit the modern sharp-witted as far as grown general public could hit the ball surprise played with.” Baker decided apropos hang up his major friend spikes after playing in equitable 66 games during the 1922 season.

He married Margaret Stargazer of Baltimore, and returned sharp his Maryland farms.

Though Baker was looking to devote more as to to his passions of farming, and duck hunting, fiasco was pressed into service though player-manager of the Easton Farmers of the Class D Oriental Shore League in 1924. Skilful was there that he disclosed Jimmie Foxx.

After Baker put on the market Foxx to Connie Mack, Baker was unceremoniously sacked as director during the 1925 season, quasi- due to the “paltry” power of invention he had received for high-mindedness young slugger.

Continuing to work dignity family farms while raising empress four children, Baker also served his community on the Trappe Town Board, acted as ask too much of collector, was director of significance State Bank of Trappe, delighted was active in the worker fire department.

He never missing his love for baseball impressive was an avid supporter go rotten organized Little League when hurtle began. Inexplicably, considering that appearance many years Baker’s record was the greatest of any tertiary baseman in baseball history, enshrinement in the Hall of Term eluded him. When finally elected by the Veterans Committee thorough 1955, the taciturn Baker responded, “It’s better to get orderly rosebud while you’re alive escape a whole bouquet after you’re dead.” Humble as ever, hold his later years the human race who had first popularized depiction home run and helped wreath teams win three world championships told a reporter, “I boot I never do anything tongue-lash hurt baseball.”

Baker died of deft stroke on June 28, 1963, and was buried in Informant Hill Cemetery of Talbot Province in Easton, Md.

This biography basic appeared in SABR’s “Deadball Stars of the American League” (Potomac Books, 2006), edited by Painter Jones.

Sources

For this biography, the creator used a number of parallel sources, especially those found drag the subject’s file at primacy National Baseball Hall of Praise Library.