| Floyd Baker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Third baseman /Second baseman | |
| Born:(1916-10-10)October 10, 1916 Luray, Virginia, U.S. | |
| Died: November 16, 2004(2004-11-16) (aged 88) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 4, 1943, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 4, 1955, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .251 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 196 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Floyd Wilson Baker (October 10, 1916 – November 16, 2004) was anAmerican professionalbaseballthird baseman, who playedMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSt. Louis Browns (1943–1944),Chicago White Sox (1945–1951),Washington Senators (1952–1953),Boston Red Sox (1953–1954), andPhiladelphia Phillies (1954–1955). During a 13-season career, Baker posted a .251 batting average, with one home run, and 196RBI, in 874 games played.[1]
Baker was born inLuray, Virginia, and attendedLuray High School. He gained early recognition as a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower in amateur clubs and broke into the minor leagues in 1938.[2]
In1943, Baker earned his first trial in the major leagues with theSt. Louis Browns, after hitting .326 for thereSan Antonio Missions of theTexas League in 1942.[2] In1944, his sophomoreMLB season, he was a reserveinfielder for the1944 Browns, the onlySt. Louis-based edition of that franchise to ever win anAmerican Leaguepennant. Baker then appeared in games 5 and 6 of the1944 World Series against its intercity rivals, theCardinals, goinghitless in twoat bats and handling twochances without anerror in relief of veteransecond basemanDon Gutteridge.
On December 30, 1944, Baker was acquired by theChicago White Sox, where he played in 590 games over seven seasons. His best overall statistical season came in1949 when he compiled 40 runs batted in, 101 hits, 15doubles, fourtriples, and played 125 games — all career-highs. He hit his lone big-league home run on May 4, a two-run blow struck off Washington'sSid Hudson on May 4 atComiskey Park.[3] That year Baker also tied the major league mark for athird baseman, taking part in three double plays in one game, and led American League third-sackers infielding percentage, with .978.[2] Then, in1950, he batted .317 in 83 games.[2]
Baker became a Washingtonscout in 1957. In1961, the old Senators franchise's first season inMinneapolis–Saint Paul, he returned to uniform as the third base coach for the renamedMinnesota Twins, a position he held through1964. Baker then resumed his former role as a scout for the Twins until his retirement in 1995.
During his career as a scout, Baker was based inYoungstown, Ohio, where his feats as a player for the Youngstown Browns were part of local baseball lore.[4] In 1977,The Youngstown Vindicator reported: "Floyd Baker, who thrilled local Middle-Atlantic League fans with his classy fielding, still has his hand in the game. A local resident, Baker scouts for Minnesota. Baker, incidentally, started a triple play in the first game he played here".[2]
Floyd Baker died in Youngstown at the age of 88. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
