Gene Baker
Born: 6/15/1925 in Davenport, IA, USA
Died: 12/1/1999 in Davenport, IA, USA
MLB Debut: 1953-09-20 | Final Game: 1961-06-10
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Eugene Walter Baker
Biography
Gene Baker was a notable American professional baseball player who played as a position player from 1953 to 1961. Born in 1925, Baker made his mark in Major League Baseball during a competitive era that bridged the transition from the post-war years to the emerging excitement of the 1960s game. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 630 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an infielder. He accumulated 590 hits, 39 home runs, and 227 RBIs, achieving a batting average of .265. His speed on the base paths was evident, as he successfully stole 21 bases during his time in the league.
Baker's contributions to the game were recognized with an All-Star selection, highlighting his brief yet impactful presence in the majors. As a player who navigated through a pivotal period in baseball history, he stood out not only for his offensive capabilities but also for his ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of the sport. His career, while not one of the longest, left a mark on the teams he played for, and he remains a respected figure among baseball historians and enthusiasts.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 528.0 | 474.0 | 84.0 | 123.0 | 22.0 | 12.0 | 8.0 | 48.0 | 47.0 | 2.0 | 14.0 | 0.259 | 0.327 | 0.407 | 0.734 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.600 | 0.500 | 1.100 |
| 1948 | 239.0 | 215.0 | 46.0 | 56.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 34.0 | 20.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 0.260 | 0.325 | 0.451 | 0.776 |
| 1949 | 284.0 | 255.0 | 38.0 | 65.0 | 15.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 14.0 | 26.0 | 0 | 7.0 | 0.255 | 0.324 | 0.369 | 0.693 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630 | 2230 | 265 | 590 | 109 | 21 | 39 | 227 | 21 | 184 | 219 | 0.265 | 0.321 | 0.385 | 0.706 | -1030.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | CHC | NL | 7 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.227 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | CHC | NL | 135 | 541 | 68 | 149 | 32 | 5 | 13 | 61 | 4 | 47 | 55 | 0.275 | 427.3 |
| 1955 | CHC | NL | 154 | 609 | 82 | 163 | 29 | 7 | 11 | 52 | 9 | 49 | 57 | 0.268 | -287.5 |
| 1956 | CHC | NL | 140 | 546 | 65 | 141 | 23 | 3 | 12 | 57 | 4 | 39 | 54 | 0.258 | -750.1 |
| 1957 | CHC | NL | 12 | 44 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0.250 | 77.0 |
| 1957 | PIT | NL | 111 | 365 | 36 | 97 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 3 | 29 | 29 | 0.266 | 77.0 |
| 1958 | PIT | NL | 29 | 56 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0.250 | -66.1 |
| 1960 | PIT | NL | 33 | 37 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.243 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | PIT | NL | 9 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | WS | PIT | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 451 | 439 | 1199 | 1303 | 84 | 326 |
| 3B | 93 | 83 | 89 | 155 | 12 | 15 |
| SS | 28 | 24 | 38 | 85 | 10 | 17 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | CHN | 2B | 6 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| 1954 | CHN | 2B | 134 | 134 | 355 | 385 | 25 | 102 |
| 1955 | CHN | 2B | 154 | 154 | 432 | 444 | 30 | 114 |
| 1956 | CHN | 2B | 140 | 139 | 362 | 426 | 25 | 99 |
| 1957 | CHN | 3B | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| 1957 | PIT | 2B | 13 | 10 | 30 | 26 | 2 | 6 |
| 1957 | PIT | 3B | 60 | 57 | 61 | 108 | 8 | 12 |
| 1957 | PIT | SS | 28 | 24 | 38 | 85 | 10 | 17 |
| 1958 | PIT | 2B | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 1958 | PIT | 3B | 11 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | PIT | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | PIT | 3B | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 1961 | PIT | 3B | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 451 |
| Third Base | 93 |
| Shortstop | 28 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |