What years did Gene Baker play?

Gene Baker played in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1961.

Was Gene Baker a pitcher?

No. Gene Baker was a position player (Second Baseman).

How many home runs did Gene Baker hit?

Gene Baker hit 42 career home runs with 635 hits.

What teams did Gene Baker play for?

Gene Baker played for 3 teams: the Kansas City Monarchs (1948), the Chicago Cubs (1953–1957), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1957–1958, 1960–1961).

Did Gene Baker win an MVP award?

No. Gene Baker did not win the MVP award.

What awards did Gene Baker win?

Gene Baker was selected to 1 All-Star Game.

What were Gene Baker's career stats?

In 676 games, Gene Baker had 635 hits, 42 home runs, 255 RBI, 304 runs, and 26 stolen bases, with a .263 batting average.

What position did Gene Baker play?

Gene Baker played primarily as a second baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.

How tall was Gene Baker and how much did he weigh?

Gene Baker was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 170 pounds.

How many home runs did Gene Baker hit each season?

Gene Baker's home runs by season: 3 in 1948, 0 in 1953, 13 in 1954, 11 in 1955, 12 in 1956, 3 in 1957, 0 in 1958, 0 in 1960, and 0 in 1961. His most in one season was 13, in 1954.

What was Gene Baker's career batting average?

Gene Baker batted .263 over his career, with 635 hits in 2,411 at bats.

How many RBI did Gene Baker have?

Gene Baker drove in 255 runs in his career.

Is Gene Baker in the Hall of Fame?

No. Gene Baker has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

How many All-Star Games did Gene Baker make?

Gene Baker was selected to 1 All-Star Game.

Gene Baker

Second Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1953-1961)

Gene Baker was a second baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1961 for the Kansas City Monarchs, the Chicago Cubs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, a span of 9 seasons. In 676 career games, he hit .263 with 635 hits, 42 home runs, and 255 RBI. Gene Baker was an All-Star. His totals include Negro Leagues seasons, which MLB recognized as major league in 2020.

AVG (Batting Average):: Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
HR (Home Runs):: Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
RBI (Runs Batted In):: Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):: On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.

Data updated October 17, 2026

AVG .263

HR 42

RBI 255

H 635

OPS .707

PIV -766

Position: Second Baseman
Bats / Throws: R / R
Height / Weight: 6'1" / 170 lb
Born: 6/15/1925 in Davenport, IA, USA
Died: 12/1/1999 in Davenport, IA, USA
MLB Debut: 1953-09-20
Last Game: 1961-06-10
Awards: All-Star

Full name: Eugene Walter Baker

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Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

Gene Baker — 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	.259	.327	.407	.734

Negro Leagues (season totals). Additive Retrosheet-digitized totals for seasons not already in the logs above; they are not summed into the career line. No team/league breakdown is available, and coverage may be partial.

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Gene Baker — Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
Season	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1947	5.0	4.0	0	2.0	0	0	0	0	1.0	0	.500	.600	.500	1.100
1949	284.0	255.0	38.0	65.0	15.0	4.0	2.0	14.0	26.0	7.0	.255	.324	.369	.693
Listed seasons · 2	289	259	38	67	15	4	2	14	27	7	.259	—	—	—

Career Batting Statistics

Gene Baker — Career Batting Statistics
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
676	2,411	304	635	118	28	42	255	26	199	219	.263	.320	.388	.707	-766

Career AVG .263 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .320 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .388 vs. league average .392 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS .707 vs. league average .723 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Career Arc

Click a stat to plot it across every season.

Gene Baker Stats, Bio & Career Records
Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1948	KCM	NAL	46	181	39	45	9	7	3	28	5	15	0	.249	.263 (-6%)	.340 (-10%)	.379 (+12%)	.719 (+2%)	-43.0
1953	CHN	NL	7	22	1	5	1	0	0	0	1	1	4	.227	—	—	—	—	0.0
1954	CHN	NL	135	541	68	149	32	5	13	61	4	47	55	.275	.261 (+6%)	.333 (avg)	.390 (+9%)	.723 (+5%)	427.3
1955	CHN	NL	154	609	82	163	29	7	11	52	9	49	57	.268	.258 (+4%)	.332 (-3%)	.393 (avg)	.726 (-1%)	-221.2
1956	CHN	NL	140	546	65	141	23	3	12	57	4	39	54	.258	.258 (avg)	.331 (-7%)	.397 (-5%)	.728 (-6%)	-589.4
1957	CHN	NL	12	44	4	11	3	1	1	10	0	6	3	.250	—	—	—	—	77.0
1957	PIT	NL	111	365	36	97	19	4	2	36	3	29	29	.266	.257 (+3%)	.323 (-2%)	.391 (-9%)	.715 (-6%)	77.0
1958	PIT	NL	29	56	3	14	2	1	0	7	0	8	6	.250	.257 (-3%)	.324 (+4%)	.394 (-18%)	.719 (-8%)	-62.5
1960	PIT	NL	33	37	5	9	0	0	0	4	0	2	9	.243	—	—	—	—	0.0
1961	PIT	NL	9	10	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	.100	—	—	—	—	0.0
Career · 10 seasons			676	2,411	304	635	118	28	42	255	26	199	219	.263	—	—	—	—	-335

Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

Gene Baker — Playoff Career Batting
G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
10	26	4	4	0	0	1	1	3	1	.154

Playoff Batting by Year

Gene Baker — 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	.000
1948	ALC	KCM	7	23	4	4	0	0	1	1	3	0	.174

Game Log & Splits

View full game log (740 games) →

Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).

Batting — Home / Away

Gene Baker — Batting — Home / Away
Split	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG
Home	395	1408	206	411	25	156	.292
Away	345	1230	130	288	20	113	.234

Last 10 Games — Batting

Gene Baker — Last 10 Games — Batting
Date	Tm	Opp	Res	AB	R	H	BB	SO
1961-06-10	PIT	SFG	L	1	0	0	0	0
1961-05-30	PIT	CHC	L	0	1	0	0	0
1961-05-28	PIT	STL	L	1	0	0	0	1
1961-05-21	PIT	PHI	W	0	0	0	0	0
1961-05-16	PIT	STL	W	1	0	0	0	1
1961-05-10	PIT	SFG	L	0	0	0	1	0
1961-04-19	PIT	CHC	W	2	0	1	2	0
1961-04-18	PIT	CHC	W	4	0	0	0	0
1961-04-13	PIT	SFG	L	1	0	0	0	0
1960-09-30	PIT	ATL	L	1	0	1	0	0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Gene Baker — Career Fielding Totals by Position
Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
2B	452	439	1200	1304	84	326
3B	93	83	89	155	12	15
SS	74	70	128	203	30	34

Season-by-Season Fielding

Gene Baker — Season-by-Season Fielding
Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1948	KCM	2B	1	0	1	1	0	0
1948	KCM	SS	46	46	90	118	20	17
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 Diamond

Circle size = games played at each position.

Gene Baker Stats, Bio & Career Records
Position	Games
Second Base	452
Third Base	93
Shortstop	74

Award Voting History

Gene Baker — Award Voting History
Year	Award	League	Finish	Points Won	Points Max	Votes First
1955	Most Valuable Player	NL	21th	2.0	336	0

Most Similar Players

Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.

Career Spans

Gene Baker (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.

Gene Baker: the record in brief

Gene Baker's season table begins in 1948 with Negro Leagues seasons, which MLB now counts as major league; the bio gives the date of the MLB debut as September 20, 1953, and the final game as June 10, 1961. The season rows list, in order, the Kansas City Monarchs (1948), the Chicago Cubs (1953 through 1957), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1957 through 1961). At 6'1" and 170 pounds, Baker is listed as a second baseman. The bio says Baker threw and hit right-handed. The recorded birth is June 15, 1925, in Davenport, IA, USA. Baker's death is recorded on December 1, 1999, in Davenport, IA, USA. The bio lists the given name Eugene Walter.

Across 676 games at the plate, Baker's career line reads 635 hits in 2,411 at bats for a .263 average, adding 42 home runs, 255 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .320 and the slugging percentage .388, for an OPS of .707.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gene Baker

What years did Gene Baker play?: Gene Baker played in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1961.
Was Gene Baker a pitcher?: No. Gene Baker was a position player (Second Baseman).
How many home runs did Gene Baker hit?: Gene Baker hit 42 career home runs with 635 hits.
What teams did Gene Baker play for?: Gene Baker played for 3 teams: the Kansas City Monarchs (1948), the Chicago Cubs (1953–1957), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1957–1958, 1960–1961).
Did Gene Baker win an MVP award?: No. Gene Baker did not win the MVP award.
What awards did Gene Baker win?: Gene Baker was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
What were Gene Baker's career stats?: In 676 games, Gene Baker had 635 hits, 42 home runs, 255 RBI, 304 runs, and 26 stolen bases, with a .263 batting average.
What position did Gene Baker play?: Gene Baker played primarily as a second baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
How tall was Gene Baker and how much did he weigh?: Gene Baker was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 170 pounds.
How many home runs did Gene Baker hit each season?: Gene Baker's home runs by season: 3 in 1948, 0 in 1953, 13 in 1954, 11 in 1955, 12 in 1956, 3 in 1957, 0 in 1958, 0 in 1960, and 0 in 1961. His most in one season was 13, in 1954.
What was Gene Baker's career batting average?: Gene Baker batted .263 over his career, with 635 hits in 2,411 at bats.
How many RBI did Gene Baker have?: Gene Baker drove in 255 runs in his career.
Is Gene Baker in the Hall of Fame?: No. Gene Baker has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
How many All-Star Games did Gene Baker make?: Gene Baker was selected to 1 All-Star Game.