John Franklin "Home Run" Baker

Crash Course · 09-14-2006, 12:02 PM

He played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1922.

nyy26wc · 09-14-2006, 12:20 PM

Of course. He's a member of the most important group in the world--the Hall of Fame.

Plus he had a .307 career average.
6 years with a .300 average
3 years with 100 RBI

Golden Bear · 09-14-2006, 01:25 PM

Quite possibly the best third baseman of the first half of the 20th century.

rc3000 · 09-14-2006, 02:12 PM

Although I don't have access to the RCAA figures, I thought I might expand on some of the other categories Mr Baker finished in the top ten according to baseball-reference:
7 OPS
9 HR (including 4 consecutive years leading the league)
7 Runs Created
7 Slugging Pct
7 Doubles
4 Triples

So I am voting yes

KCBOOMER · 09-14-2006, 02:46 PM

He was first great 3B's of the modern era. Even 70+ years after his retirement he would still rank as a Top Ten 3B for offensive production alone. And he was an original member of Connie Mack's $100,000 infield.

mainsr · 09-15-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden Bear

Quite possibly the best third baseman of the first half of the 20th century.

I don't think there's anyone particularly close.

nyy26wc · 09-15-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainsr

I don't think there's anyone particularly close.

Stan Hack.

But, after Hack and Baker, there's really nobody close to them.

Code:

CAREER
1900-1949
3B

RCAA                           RCAA    
1    Stan Hack                   306   
2    Home Run Baker              303   
3    Bob Elliott                 203   
4    Heine Groh                  161   
5    Harlond Clift               152   
6    Whitey Kurowski             133   
7    Heinie Zimmerman            122   
8    Art Devlin                  112   
9    John McGraw                 108   
10   Red Smith                   102

rc3000 · 09-15-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyy26wc

Code:

CAREER
1900-1949
3B

RCAA                           RCAA    
1    Stan Hack                   306   
2    Home Run Baker              303   
3    Bob Elliott                 203   
4    Heine Groh                  161   
5    Harlond Clift               152   
6    Whitey Kurowski             133   
7    Heinie Zimmerman            122   
8    Art Devlin                  112   
9    John McGraw                 108   
10   Red Smith                   102

I am guessing that Pie Traynor may be considered somewhat overrated

Just curious as to his RCAA was he even close to the top 10? I guess it is time for me to re-order the encyclopedia but I don't want to look like a suck up...

nyy26wc · 09-15-2006, 03:34 PM

Traynor only had 75 RCAA.

YankeeLinks · 09-15-2006, 04:31 PM

Hey, the guy was called "HOME RUN" Baker. Whether it was deserved or not, that alone should be enough.

rc3000 · 09-15-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyy26wc

Traynor only had 75 RCAA.

Thanks. That's it I am throwing out my 1976 Topps Card that had him listed as the greatest 3rd baseman of all-time

nyy26wc · 09-15-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc3000

Thanks. That's it I am throwing out my 1976 Topps Card that had him listed as the greatest 3rd baseman of all-time

And I better remove this card from my store before I get sued for selling a fraudulent item. It's fraud to call Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider future stars.

RascalJones · 09-18-2006, 03:36 PM

I used to have that card, Lee. As a matter of fact, the memory of that card helped me in a game of 1980's Trivial Pursuit over the weekend.

crazydiamond · 09-18-2006, 11:05 PM

I desire said card
I've been a huge Ripken fan (despite living in California) since 1991

Nuclear Dish · 09-21-2006, 04:44 AM

When I was a little kid, someone told me that before Babe Ruth came around, Home Run Baker had earned his nickname because he was the pre-Ruth home run king. When I got older, I found that this was far from true. He wasn't the all-time leader, the active leader, or even the single season champ in even a single season, let alone overall. Which all leads me to question how he got his nickname.

View Poll Results: Should Homerun Baker Be In NetShrine?
Yes	26	96.30%
No	1	3.70%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

09-14-2006, 12:02 PM	#1
Crash Course NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 10,070	John Franklin "Home Run" Baker He played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1922. __________________ Steve, Forum Admin Hit Grass, Win Salad Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. - Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, in The Sandlot I've been going to games since August 8, 1973....and on August 22, 2004, finally, a foul ball came my way. I had to reach for it, and it deflected off the tip of my right index finger. Shoot, if I was only 4 inches taller! Have you read The Baseball Same Game?

09-14-2006, 12:20 PM	#2
nyy26wc NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 14,584	Of course. He's a member of the most important group in the world--the Hall of Fame. Plus he had a .307 career average. 6 years with a .300 average 3 years with 100 RBI __________________ Lee Creator, Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting and stat display options. The CBE has many features that are not available in online and printed sources. Has 2006 stats and daily update service for 2007.

09-14-2006, 02:12 PM	#4
rc3000 Inducted Into The NetShrine Assembly of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 543	Although I don't have access to the RCAA figures, I thought I might expand on some of the other categories Mr Baker finished in the top ten according to baseball-reference: 7 OPS 9 HR (including 4 consecutive years leading the league) 7 Runs Created 7 Slugging Pct 7 Doubles 4 Triples So I am voting yes __________________ Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth - Roberto Clemente

09-14-2006, 02:46 PM	#5
KCBOOMER NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Home of the T-Bones Posts: 11,116	He was first great 3B's of the modern era. Even 70+ years after his retirement he would still rank as a Top Ten 3B for offensive production alone. And he was an original member of Connie Mack's $100,000 infield. __________________ KCBOOMER *Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball*

09-14-2006, 01:25 PM	#3
Golden Bear NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,100	Quite possibly the best third baseman of the first half of the 20th century.

09-15-2006, 03:34 PM	#9
nyy26wc NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 14,584	Traynor only had 75 RCAA. __________________ Lee Creator, Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting and stat display options. The CBE has many features that are not available in online and printed sources. Has 2006 stats and daily update service for 2007.

09-15-2006, 04:31 PM	#10
YankeeLinks NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Home of 27 World Championships Posts: 2,862	Hey, the guy was called "HOME RUN" Baker. Whether it was deserved or not, that alone should be enough.

09-18-2006, 03:36 PM	#13
RascalJones NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,862	I used to have that card, Lee. As a matter of fact, the memory of that card helped me in a game of 1980's Trivial Pursuit over the weekend. __________________ "Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -- Red Barber, announcer "The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh, I was proud." -- Bob Uecker

09-18-2006, 11:05 PM	#14
crazydiamond Inducted Into The NetShrine Assembly of Fame Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 935	I desire said card I've been a huge Ripken fan (despite living in California) since 1991

09-21-2006, 04:44 AM	#15
Nuclear Dish NetShrine All-Star Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 114	When I was a little kid, someone told me that before Babe Ruth came around, Home Run Baker had earned his nickname because he was the pre-Ruth home run king. When I got older, I found that this was far from true. He wasn't the all-time leader, the active leader, or even the single season champ in even a single season, let alone overall. Which all leads me to question how he got his nickname. __________________ "Sure I botched that sacrifice bunt. But look at it this way. I'm a better bunter than a million chinese guys. Those poor suckers can't bunt at all." - John Lowenstein.

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