Floyd Baker
| Floyd Baker | |||
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| Third baseman/Second baseman | |||
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Born: October 10, 1916 Luray, Virginia | |||
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Died: November 17, 2004 (aged 88) Youngstown, Ohio | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| May 4, 1943, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| May 4, 1955, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .251 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 196 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Floyd Wilson Baker (October 10, 1916 – November 17, 2004) was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns (1943–1944), Chicago White Sox (1945–1951), Washington Senators (1952–1953), Boston Red Sox (1953–1954) and Philadelphia Phillies (1954–1955). During a 13-season career, Baker posted a .251 batting average, with one home run and 196 RBI in 874 games played.
Early years
Baker was born in Luray, Virginia, United States. He gained early recognition as a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower in amateur clubs and broke into the minor leagues in 1938.[1]
Major league career
In 1943, Baker earned his first trial in the major leagues with the St. Louis Browns, after hitting .326 for a minor league club at San Antonio, Texas, in 1942.[1] Two seasons later, Baker was playing with the Chicago White Sox, where his first batting mark was .317 in 1950. The previous year, he led the American League for fielding, with .978.[1] His best statistical season came in 1949 when he achieved a .251 batting average, 40 RBI, 101 hits, 15 doubles, 4 triples, and played 125 games—all career-highs. Also in 1949, he tied the major league mark for first baseman, taking part in three double plays in one game.[1]
In 1961, he was hired as the third base coach for the Minnesota Twins, a position he held until 1964. Baker served as a scout for the Twins until his retirement in 1995.
Later years
During his career as a scout, Baker was based in Youngstown, Ohio, where his feats as a player for the Youngstown Browns were part of local baseball lore. In 1977, The Youngstown Vindicator reported: "Floyd Baker, who thrilled local Middle-Atlantic League fans with his classy fielding, still has his hand in the game. A local resident, Baker scouts for Minnesota. Baker, incidentally, started a triple play in the first game he played here".[1]
Floyd Baker died in Youngstown at the age of 88. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.