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MLB History: Top 25 third basemen in MLB history

By Bobby Mueller

NEW YORK, NY - UNDATED: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run during a game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, New York on an unspecified date. (MLB Photos)
NEW YORK, NY - UNDATED: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run during a game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, New York on an unspecified date. (MLB Photos) /
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PHILADELPHIA – 1911. The Philadelphia Athletics $100,000. infield poses together in 1911 in Shibe Park. They are (L-R) Stuffy McInnis, Danny Murphy, Frank “Home Run” Baker, Jack Barry, and Eddie Collins. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – 1911. The Philadelphia Athletics $100,000. infield poses together in 1911 in Shibe Park. They are (L-R) Stuffy McInnis, Danny Murphy, Frank “Home Run” Baker, Jack Barry, and Eddie Collins. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

MLB History Frank “Home Run” Baker (#13)

“It’s better to get a rosebud while you’re alive than a whole bouquet after you’re dead.”—Home Run Baker

It’s easy to look at Home Run Baker’s career total of 96 round-trippers and wonder how he ever got that nickname. Well, it was a different time. Baker led the AL in home runs four straight years from 1911 to 1914. In those four years, he hit 11, 10, 12 and 9 long balls, for a total of 42. Within 10 years, Babe Ruth would hit 54 home runs in a single season, 12 more than Home Run Baker hit in four league-leading seasons.

Legend has it that Baker earned the nickname “Home Run” when he hit two dingers against the New York Giants in the 1911 World Series. Both of his home runs were key to the Athletics winning games. The first came off Rube Marquard in the sixth inning of Game Two of the series. The score was tied 1-1 and Baker’s two-run shot was enough for the A’s to win the game.

The very next game, Baker hit a clutch, game-tying home run off the great Christy Mathewson. The A’s went on to win the game in 11 innings. This is the legend of how Frank Baker became “Home Run” Baker, but is it really true?

Nope. According to this SABR article, Baker was referred to as “Home Run” Baker in the Philadelphian North American in 1909, two years before his home run heroics in the 1911 World Series. In that North American article, Baker’s previous exploits were detailed: “Baker’s work has possibly been the most spectacular. On three occasions he has won close games with home runs, while his fielding inspires the belief that [Connie] Mack will have the best man at the corner since the days when Lave Cross was good.”

So Baker was Home Run Baker before his big World Series against the Giants in 1911. Once he got the name, he held it for life. Despite being known for his home runs, Baker was a good all-around hitter, finishing his 13-year career with a 134 wRC+. At his best, he could hit home runs, get on base at a good clip, and steal bases.

During the last six years of his career, Baker played for the New York Yankees. He was teammates with Babe Ruth in 1921 and 1922. While the Babe was setting home run records every year, Baker pointed out that the lively ball made a difference, saying, “I don’t like to cast aspersions, but a Little Leaguer today can hit the modern ball as far as grown men could hit the ball we played with.”

Years after his career ended, Baker appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot. He didn’t get enough support for induction in 11 years on the BBWAA ballot, but did make the Hall of Fame through the Veterans Committee in 1955.

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