George Baker
Born: 8/20/1857 in St. Louis, MO, USA
Died: 1/29/1915 in St. Louis, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1883-05-24 | Final Game: 1886-05-01
Height: 5'11" | Weight: 162 lbs
Full name: George F. Baker
Biography
George Baker, born in 1857, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1883 to May 1, 1886. During his time in Major League Baseball, Baker played primarily as a position player, participating in a total of 126 games. He was known for his versatility and tenacity on the field, navigating a competitive landscape that was still in the early stages of professional baseball's evolution.
Baker finished his career with 74 hits and a batting average of .156, reflecting the challenges many players faced in the pre-Deadball Era, where offensive statistics often lagged behind modern benchmarks. Despite not hitting any home runs and recording just 5 RBIs, his contributions to his teams were significant in terms of defense and team dynamics. Baker's era was characterized by a different style of play, emphasizing contact and speed over power, a factor that influenced many players of his time. Though his statistical output may not have placed him among the game's greats, Baker's presence in the early days of professional baseball contributed to the rich tapestry of the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 474 | 45 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 29 | 0.156 | 0.180 | 0.169 | 0.349 | -2947.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | BL2 | AA | 7 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.227 | 0.0 |
| 1884 | SLU | UA | 80 | 317 | 39 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.164 | -2000.4 |
| 1885 | SL5 | NL | 38 | 131 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 28 | 0.122 | -946.6 |
| 1886 | KCN | NL | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 5 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| 3B | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| C | 104 | 0 | 598 | 149 | 95 | 13 |
| OF | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| SS | 6 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | BL2 | C | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1883 | BL2 | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1883 | BL2 | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1884 | SLU | C | 68 | 0 | 435 | 113 | 63 | 11 |
| 1884 | SLU | 2B | 4 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| 1884 | SLU | 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1884 | SLU | SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1884 | SLU | OF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1885 | SL5 | C | 32 | 0 | 148 | 31 | 28 | 1 |
| 1885 | SL5 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1885 | SL5 | 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1885 | SL5 | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1886 | KCN | C | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 104 |
| Second Base | 5 |
| Third Base | 6 |
| Shortstop | 6 |
| Left Field | 3 |
| Center Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 3 |