Frank Baker
Born: 10/29/1946 in Meridian, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1970-08-09 | Final Game: 1974-10-02
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 178 lbs
Full name: Frank Watts Baker
Biography
Frank Baker, born in 1946, was a professional baseball player who played primarily as a position player from 1970 until his retirement in 1974. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 146 games, demonstrating a commitment to the teams he played for during a transitional period in Major League Baseball, marked by the increasing integration of diverse talents and evolving strategies. Baker registered 55 hits, including one home run, and drove in 24 runs, showcasing a steady, if not spectacular, offensive presence.
Baker's career batting average stood at .191, reflecting the challenges players faced during the early 1970s, a time when offensive production was influenced by a variety of factors, including pitching dominance and the ballpark dimensions of the era. He also contributed defensively with a total of four stolen bases, indicating his willingness to take risks on the base paths. While Baker may not have achieved the statistical milestones of many of his contemporaries, his participation in Major League Baseball during this era highlighted his role in the sport's ongoing evolution and the importance of perseverance in the pursuit of a professional athletic career.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 288 | 28 | 55 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 40 | 60 | 0.191 | 0.292 | 0.250 | 0.542 | -851.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | NYY | AL | 35 | 117 | 6 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 26 | 0.231 | -247.5 |
| 1971 | NYY | AL | 43 | 79 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 22 | 0.139 | -403.6 |
| 1973 | BAL | AL | 44 | 63 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0.190 | -200.4 |
| 1974 | BAL | AL | 24 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.172 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ALCS | BAL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1973 | ALCS | BAL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 10 | 1 | 20 | 19 | 5 | 2 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 122 | 84 | 152 | 291 | 22 | 70 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | NYA | SS | 35 | 32 | 62 | 118 | 5 | 22 |
| 1971 | NYA | SS | 38 | 29 | 53 | 97 | 8 | 28 |
| 1973 | BAL | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | BAL | 2B | 7 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | BAL | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | BAL | SS | 32 | 17 | 30 | 51 | 3 | 16 |
| 1974 | BAL | 2B | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 1974 | BAL | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | BAL | SS | 17 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 6 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 10 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 122 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg | MS | 1965, 1966, 1967 |