Введение
Джон Франклин "Хоум Ран" Бейкер (13 марта 1886 – 28 июня 1963) – американский профессиональный бейсболист. Третий бэйсмен, Бейкер играл в Высшей лиге бейсбола (MLB) с 1908 по 1922 год за "Филадельфия Атлетикс" и "Нью-Йорк Янкиз". Хотя он никогда не выбивал более 12 хоум-ранов за сезон и всего 96 за свою карьеру в Высшей лиге, Бейкера называли "первым королем хоум-ранов в Высшей лиге". Бейкер был членом знаменитого состава "Атлетикс" стоимостью 100 000 долларов. Он помог "Атлетикс" выиграть Мировую серию в 1910, 1911 и 1913 годах. После спора о контракте "Атлетикс" продали Бейкера "Янкиз", где он и Уолли Пипп усилили нападение команды. Бейкер выступал за "Янкиз" в Мировых сериях 1921 и 1922 годов, однако "Янкиз" проиграли обе серии, после чего он завершил карьеру. Бейкер лидировал в Американской лиге по количеству хоум-ранов с 1911 по 1914 год. В шести сезонах его отбивание превышало .300, в трех сезонах он набрал более 100 RBI, а в двух сезонах – более 100 пробегов. Со временем наследие Бейкера только росло, и многие считают его одним из лучших бьющих игроков эпохи "мёртвого мяча". Старший брат Фрэнка, Норман, был известен в городе своими бейсбольными способностями. Норман однажды пробовал свои силы в "Филадельфия Атлетикс", но город ему не понравился, и он перестал заниматься бейсболом. Бейкер учился в средней школе Траппе и играл за её бейсбольную команду в качестве питчера и аутфилдера. В 1906 году Бейкер играл за клуб "Спарроуз Пойнт" в Балтиморе, зарабатывая 15 долларов в неделю (что эквивалентно [сумма] в сегодняшних долларах). В 1907 году ему предложили играть за команду в Техасской лиге класса C, но он отказался. Вместо этого он подписал контракт с независимой командой из Кембриджа, штат Мэриленд. В 1909 году Бейкер отбивал с процентом .305, имел показатель slugging percentage .447 и выбил четыре хоум-рана за "Филадельфию", включая первый хоум-ран, перелетевший за забор в правом поле стадиона Шиб Парк. Его slugging percentage был четвёртым лучшим в Американской лиге, 85 RBI – третьим лучшим, а 19 триплов – лучшим показателем в лиге. "Атлетикс" улучшили свой результат 1908 года на 27 побед в 1909 году, но финишировали вторыми после "Детройт Тайгерс". Мак назвал Кобба самым грязным игроком, которого он когда-либо видел.
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". 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. Frank's older brother, Norman, was well known in the town for his playing ability. Norman once tried out for the Philadelphia Athletics, but he did not like that city and stopped pursuing a baseball career. Baker attended Trappe High School and played for their baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. In 1906, Baker played for Sparrows Point Club in Baltimore, earning $15 per week ($ in current dollar terms). He received an offer to play for a team in the Class C Texas League in 1907, which he turned down. He instead signed with an independent team based in Cambridge, Maryland. He hit .305 with a .447 slugging percentage and four home runs for Philadelphia in 1909, including the first home run to go over the fence in right field of Shibe Park. His slugging percentage was fourth best in the American League, while his 85 runs batted in (RBIs) were third best, and his 19 triples led the league. The Athletics improved by 27 wins over their 1908 record in 1909, but finished in second place behind the Detroit Tigers. while Mack called Cobb the dirtiest player he had seen,
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 for an Athletics win. 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 and the Athletics won again. The Athletics defeated the Giants in six games, as Baker led the Athletics with a .375 batting average, nine hits and five RBIs in the series. But his Athletics finished in third place, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Giants in an exciting eight game World Series. In 1913, he again led the league with 12 home runs and 117 RBIs, but this time the Athletics defeated the Giants in the World Series, as Baker batted .450 with a home run and seven RBIs in the five games. He led the league in home runs for a fourth consecutive season in 1914, with nine, Late in the season, Mack sent Baker, Collins and pitcher Chief Bender to scout the Boston Braves, their opponent in the 1914 World Series. Despite predictions that Philadelphia would win the series handily,
After the 1914 World Series, Mack began to sell off some of his best players Baker, who had just completed the first year of a three year contract, attempted to renegotiate his terms, but Mack refused. Baker sat out the entire 1915 season as a result of this contract dispute. He remained in baseball, playing for a team representing Upland, Pennsylvania, in the semi professional Delaware County League.
В Мировой серии 1911 года "Атлетикс" встретились с "Джайентс". Учитывая прошлые столкновения Бейкера с Коббом, игроки "Джайентс" считали, что смогут запугать его. Фред Снодграсс ударил Бейкера во время скольжения в третью базу в первой игре, выбив мяч и вынудив Бейкера перевязать руку. Во второй игре Бейкер выбил хоум-ран, принесший победу "Атлетикс" над Рубом Марквардом. В третьей игре он выбил хоум-ран в девятом иннинге, сравняв счёт с Кристи Мэтьюсоном. Позже в игре Снодграсс снова попытался ударить Бейкера, но тот удержал мяч, и "Атлетикс" снова победили. "Атлетикс" победили "Джайентс" в шести играх, а Бейкер стал лучшим бьющим команды с процентом отбивания .375, девятью хитами и пятью RBI в серии. Однако "Атлетикс" финишировали только на третьем месте, а "Бостон Ред Сокс" победили "Джайентс" в захватывающей восьмиматчевой Мировой серии. В 1913 году он снова лидировал в лиге по количеству хоум-ранов (12) и RBI (117), и на этот раз "Атлетикс" победили "Джайентс" в Мировой серии, где Бейкер отбивал с процентом .450, выбив хоум-ран и семь RBI в пяти играх. В 1914 году он в четвёртый раз подряд лидировал в лиге по количеству хоум-ранов (9). В конце сезона Мак отправил Бейкера, Коллинза и питчера Чифа Бендера на разведку "Бостон Брейвз", их соперника в Мировой серии 1914 года. Несмотря на прогнозы лёгкой победы "Филадельфии",
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". 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. Frank's older brother, Norman, was well known in the town for his playing ability. Norman once tried out for the Philadelphia Athletics, but he did not like that city and stopped pursuing a baseball career. Baker attended Trappe High School and played for their baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. In 1906, Baker played for Sparrows Point Club in Baltimore, earning $15 per week ($ in current dollar terms). He received an offer to play for a team in the Class C Texas League in 1907, which he turned down. He instead signed with an independent team based in Cambridge, Maryland. He hit .305 with a .447 slugging percentage and four home runs for Philadelphia in 1909, including the first home run to go over the fence in right field of Shibe Park. His slugging percentage was fourth best in the American League, while his 85 runs batted in (RBIs) were third best, and his 19 triples led the league. The Athletics improved by 27 wins over their 1908 record in 1909, but finished in second place behind the Detroit Tigers. while Mack called Cobb the dirtiest player he had seen,
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 for an Athletics win. 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 and the Athletics won again. The Athletics defeated the Giants in six games, as Baker led the Athletics with a .375 batting average, nine hits and five RBIs in the series. But his Athletics finished in third place, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Giants in an exciting eight game World Series. In 1913, he again led the league with 12 home runs and 117 RBIs, but this time the Athletics defeated the Giants in the World Series, as Baker batted .450 with a home run and seven RBIs in the five games. He led the league in home runs for a fourth consecutive season in 1914, with nine, Late in the season, Mack sent Baker, Collins and pitcher Chief Bender to scout the Boston Braves, their opponent in the 1914 World Series. Despite predictions that Philadelphia would win the series handily,
After the 1914 World Series, Mack began to sell off some of his best players Baker, who had just completed the first year of a three year contract, attempted to renegotiate his terms, but Mack refused. Baker sat out the entire 1915 season as a result of this contract dispute. He remained in baseball, playing for a team representing Upland, Pennsylvania, in the semi professional Delaware County League.
После Мировой серии 1914 года Мак начал продавать некоторых из своих лучших игроков. Бейкер, который только что завершил первый год трёхлетнего контракта, попытался пересмотреть его условия, но Мак отказался. В результате этого спора о контракте Бейкер пропустил весь сезон 1915 года. Он остался в бейсболе, играя за команду, представляющую Апленд, штат Пенсильвания, в полупрофессиональной Лиге округа Делавэр.
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". 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. Frank's older brother, Norman, was well known in the town for his playing ability. Norman once tried out for the Philadelphia Athletics, but he did not like that city and stopped pursuing a baseball career. Baker attended Trappe High School and played for their baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. In 1906, Baker played for Sparrows Point Club in Baltimore, earning $15 per week ($ in current dollar terms). He received an offer to play for a team in the Class C Texas League in 1907, which he turned down. He instead signed with an independent team based in Cambridge, Maryland. He hit .305 with a .447 slugging percentage and four home runs for Philadelphia in 1909, including the first home run to go over the fence in right field of Shibe Park. His slugging percentage was fourth best in the American League, while his 85 runs batted in (RBIs) were third best, and his 19 triples led the league. The Athletics improved by 27 wins over their 1908 record in 1909, but finished in second place behind the Detroit Tigers. while Mack called Cobb the dirtiest player he had seen,
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 for an Athletics win. 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 and the Athletics won again. The Athletics defeated the Giants in six games, as Baker led the Athletics with a .375 batting average, nine hits and five RBIs in the series. But his Athletics finished in third place, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Giants in an exciting eight game World Series. In 1913, he again led the league with 12 home runs and 117 RBIs, but this time the Athletics defeated the Giants in the World Series, as Baker batted .450 with a home run and seven RBIs in the five games. He led the league in home runs for a fourth consecutive season in 1914, with nine, Late in the season, Mack sent Baker, Collins and pitcher Chief Bender to scout the Boston Braves, their opponent in the 1914 World Series. Despite predictions that Philadelphia would win the series handily,
After the 1914 World Series, Mack began to sell off some of his best players Baker, who had just completed the first year of a three year contract, attempted to renegotiate his terms, but Mack refused. Baker sat out the entire 1915 season as a result of this contract dispute. He remained in baseball, playing for a team representing Upland, Pennsylvania, in the semi professional Delaware County League.
Нью-Йорк Янкиз
Под давлением президента Американской лиги Бан Джонсона, Мак продал контракт Бейкера в «Нью-Йорк Янкиз» за 35 000 долларов (в пересчете на современные деньги). Пипп выбил девять хоум-ранов в 1917 году, снова став лучшим в лиге. Бейкер возглавил лигу по количеству сыгранных матчей в сезоне – 141 игра. В том году «Янкиз» выбили 47 хоум-ранов, десять из которых на счету Бейкера. Бейкер пропустил сезон 1920 года, так как его жена умерла от скарлатины. Обе его дочери также заболели, но смогли выздороветь. «Джайентс» победили «Янкиз» со счетом 5:3 в серии; Бейкер принял участие лишь в четырех из восьми игр, в то время как Макнелли продемонстрировал средний показатель отбивания всего 0,200. В сезоне 1922 года Бейкер сыграл в 66 матчах. Затмив Бейкера как хоум-ран-хиттера, Бэйб Рут вызвал у него жалобы на «мяч-заяц», утверждая, что используемый мяч летит гораздо дальше, чем мячи, которые использовались на протяжении большей части его карьеры. Он завершил карьеру в составе «Янкиз» со средним показателем отбивания 0,288, 48 хоум-ранами и 379 RBI в 676 играх.
Управленческая карьера
После завершения карьеры игрока Бейкер руководил командой "Истон Фармерс" из Лиги Восточного берега в сезонах 1924 и 1925 годов. Ему приписывают открытие Джимми Фокса и рекомендацию его Маку. После того как Бейкер продал Фокса "Атлетикс", "Фармерс" уволили Бейкера, посчитав, что Мак заплатил недостаточно высокую цену за Фокса. Каждое межсезонье он возвращался на свою ферму в Мэриленде, где любил охотиться на уток. В конце января 1914 года у Бейкера и его жены родились близнецы. Спустя несколько дней о новорожденных сообщили как о здоровых, но они умерли, не прожив и двух недель. Изначально "The New York Times" сообщила о рождении мальчика и девочки, но через несколько дней в той же газете появилась информация о рождении близнецов-девочек. После сезона 1919 года его жена заболела скарлатиной и скончалась. 28 июня 1963 года Бейкер умер примерно через две недели после инсульта. Он оставил вдову и двоих детей от каждого из двух браков. Его похоронили на кладбище Спринг-Хилл в Истоне, штат Мэриленд. В 1955 году Комитет ветеранов избрал Бейкера в Национальный Зал славы бейсбола. Он также был включен в бейсбольный зал славы города Рединг, штат Пенсильвания. Лоуренс Риттер и Дональд Хониг включили его в свою книгу 1981 года "100 величайших игроков в бейсбол всех времен". В своей книге 2001 года "Новый исторический бейсбольный абстракт Билла Джеймса" Билл Джеймс поставил Бейкера на 70-е место среди величайших игроков всех времен и на 5-е место среди лучших игроков третьей базы.