Home Run Baker was born on Saturday, March 13, 1886, in Trappe, Maryland. Baker was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 21, 1908, with the Philadelphia Athletics. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Home Run Baker baseball stats page.
"When it came to hitting, (Home Run) Baker needed help like (Andrew) Carnegie needed money." - Collins, Eddie. Philadelphia Athletics Teammate. Frank "Home Run" Baker: Hall of Famer and World Series Hero. Sparks, Barry. Author. McFarland & Company. 31 October 2005. Page 69.
Home Run Baker |
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Home Run BakerHome Run Baker Pitching Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
| - | - | Did Not Pitch | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
Home Run BakerHome Run Baker Hitting Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 1908 | 22 | Athletics | 9 | 31 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | .290 | .290 | .387 |
| 1909 | 23 | Athletics | 148 | 541 | 73 | 165 | 27 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 85 | 26 | - | 48 | 34 | 0 | 5 | - | .305 | .343 | .447 |
| 1910 | 24 | Athletics | 146 | 561 | 83 | 159 | 25 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 34 | - | 36 | 21 | 0 | 4 | - | .283 | .329 | .392 |
| 1911 | 25 | Athletics | 148 | 592 | 96 | 198 | 42 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 115 | 40 | - | 38 | 25 | 0 | 2 | - | .334 | .379 | .508 |
| 1912 | 26 | Athletics | 149 | 577 | 116 | 200 | 40 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 130 | 50 | - | 38 | 11 | 0 | 6 | - | .347 | .404 | .541 |
| 1913 | 27 | Athletics | 149 | 564 | 116 | 190 | 34 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 117 | 63 | - | 31 | 7 | 0 | 10 | - | .337 | .413 | .493 |
| 1914 | 28 | Athletics | 150 | 570 | 84 | 182 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 89 | 53 | - | 37 | 8 | 0 | 3 | - | .319 | .380 | .442 |
| 1916 | 30 | Yankees | 100 | 360 | 46 | 97 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 52 | 36 | 7 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | .269 | .344 | .428 |
| 1917 | 31 | Yankees | 146 | 553 | 57 | 156 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 71 | 48 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | .282 | .345 | .365 |
| 1918 | 32 | Yankees | 126 | 504 | 65 | 154 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 62 | 38 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .306 | .357 | .409 |
| 1919 | 33 | Yankees | 141 | 567 | 70 | 166 | 22 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 83 | 44 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .293 | .346 | .388 |
| 1921 | 35 | Yankees | 94 | 330 | 46 | 97 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 71 | 26 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 6 | .294 | .353 | .436 |
| 1922 | 36 | Yankees | 69 | 234 | 30 | 65 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 36 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .278 | .327 | .444 |
| Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
| 13 Years | 1,575 | 5,984 | 887 | 1,838 | 315 | 103 | 96 | 1 | 987 | 473 | 17 | 344 | 153 | 0 | 50 | 27 | .307 | .363 | .442 | ||
Home Run BakerHome Run Baker Fielding Stats |
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| Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 1908 Athletics | 3B | 9 | 9 | 209 | 34 | 3.8 | 34 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 4.39 |
| 1909 Athletics | 3B | 146 | 146 | 3,909 | 528 | 3.6 | 486 | 209 | 277 | 42 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .920 | 3.36 |
| 1910 Athletics | 3B | 146 | 145 | 3,905 | 565 | 3.9 | 520 | 207 | 313 | 45 | 35 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .920 | 3.60 |
| 1911 Athletics | 3B | 148 | 148 | 4,035 | 521 | 3.5 | 491 | 217 | 274 | 30 | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .942 | 3.29 |
| 1912 Athletics | 3B | 149 | 149 | 3,921 | 572 | 3.8 | 538 | 217 | 321 | 34 | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .941 | 3.70 |
| 1913 Athletics | 3B | 149 | 149 | 3,897 | 557 | 3.7 | 513 | 233 | 280 | 44 | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .921 | 3.55 |
| 1914 Athletics | 3B | 149 | 149 | 3,940 | 537 | 3.6 | 513 | 221 | 292 | 24 | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 3.52 |
| 1916 Yankees | 3B | 96 | 95 | 2,524 | 365 | 3.8 | 343 | 133 | 210 | 22 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .940 | 3.67 |
| 1917 Yankees | 3B | 146 | 146 | 3,938 | 547 | 3.7 | 519 | 202 | 317 | 28 | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .949 | 3.56 |
| 1918 Yankees | 3B | 126 | 126 | 3,467 | 470 | 3.7 | 457 | 175 | 282 | 13 | 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .972 | 3.56 |
| 1919 Yankees | 3B | 141 | 141 | 3,808 | 484 | 3.4 | 462 | 176 | 286 | 22 | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 3.28 |
| 1921 Yankees | 3B | 83 | 82 | 2,140 | 268 | 3.2 | 257 | 84 | 173 | 11 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .959 | 3.24 |
| 1922 Yankees | 3B | 57 | 57 | 1,519 | 183 | 3.2 | 176 | 68 | 108 | 7 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .962 | 3.13 |
| Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 3B Totals | 1,545 | 1,542 | 41,212 | 5,631 | 3.6 | 5,309 | 2,154 | 3,155 | 322 | 259 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 3.48 | |
| 13 Years | 1,545 | 1,542 | 41,212 | 5,631 | 3.6 | 5,309 | 2,154 | 3,155 | 322 | 259 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 3.48 | |
Home Run BakerHome Run Baker Miscellaneous Stats |
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| Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
| Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 1908 Athletics | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 15.5 | 15.5 | - | - | - |
| 1909 Athletics | 20 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 135.3 | 11.3 | 6.4 | - | - | - |
| 1910 Athletics | 21 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 280.5 | 15.6 | 7.6 | - | - | - |
| 1911 Athletics | 38 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 53.8 | 15.6 | 5.1 | - | - | - |
| 1912 Athletics | 40 | 26 | .606 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 57.7 | 15.2 | 4.4 | - | - | - |
| 1913 Athletics | 34 | 11 | .756 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 47.0 | 18.2 | 4.8 | - | - | - |
| 1914 Athletics | 19 | 20 | .487 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 63.3 | 15.4 | 6.4 | - | - | - |
| 1916 Yankees | 15 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 36.0 | 12.0 | 6.9 | - | - | - |
| 1917 Yankees | 18 | 8 | .692 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 92.2 | 20.5 | 7.8 | - | - | - |
| 1918 Yankees | 8 | 9 | .471 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 84.0 | 38.8 | 8.1 | - | - | - |
| 1919 Yankees | 13 | 9 | .591 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 56.7 | 31.5 | 6.8 | - | - | - |
| 1921 Yankees | 8 | 5 | .615 | 11 | 0 | n/a | 36.7 | 27.5 | 4.6 | - | - | - |
| 1922 Yankees | 1 | 3 | .250 | 12 | 0 | n/a | 33.4 | 16.7 | 6.5 | - | - | - |
| Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 13 Years | 235 | 91 | .721 | 23 | 0 | n/a | 62.3 | 17.4 | 6.1 | - | - | - |
Home Run BakerHome Run Baker Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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| Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
| 1908 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
| 1909 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
| 1910 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | $5,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
| 1911 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | $6,200.00 | n/a | Stats |
| 1912 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | $6,500.00 | n/a | - |
| 1913 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | $8,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
| 1914 Philadelphia Athletics | n/a | $8,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
| 1916 New York Yankees | n/a | $9,166.00 | n/a | - |
| 1917 New York Yankees | n/a | $9,166.00 | n/a | - |
| 1918 New York Yankees | n/a | $9,166.00 | n/a | - |
| 1919 New York Yankees | n/a | $12,000.00 | n/a | - |
| 1921 New York Yankees | n/a | $13,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
| 1922 New York Yankees | n/a | $13,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
| Home Run Baker Stats by Baseball Almanac | ||||

John Franklin Baker was a Major League Baseball player with the Philadelphia Athletics (1908-1914) and New York Yankees (1916-1919, 1921-1922). Frank, his nickname at the start of his career, became better known as Home Run, after leading the American League in home runs in 1911 (11), 1912 (10), 1913 (12), and 1914 (9). Baseball cards and memorabilia only referred to him as Frank originally, until around 1912, when Home Run was more commonly used to describe the slugger.

Home Run Baker Rookie Card | 1909 T206 Sweet Caporal Baseball Card (#139)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
Did you know that Home Run Baker was a member of the of the famed "$100,000 infield" which also featured Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, and Jack Barry?
Did you know that when Home Run Baker became the home run champion in 1912, it was the first season in American League history where two junior circuit players tied for the league lead? Do you remember what hall of fame centerfielder also hit ten home runs in 1912? [Answer]
Did you know that Home Run Baker was chosen by the authors of The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball's Prized Players (Zappala, Tom & Ellen. Peter E. Randall Publisher. 1, January 2013.) as "one of the greatest third baseman of all time" and their "choice at the hot corner?" An excerpt from their exceptional Home Run Baker biography:
"Frank 'Home Run' Baker was an exceptional third baseman and an outstanding hitter whose place in the Hall of Fame is well deserved. Initially, it was thought that the young Baker would not make the grade in Major League baseball. However, Buck Herzog, a friend who was already playing in the majors, convinced a few people to take a shot on the gifted third baseman.
"Baker did not disappoint, as he batted .305 in 1909, his rookie season with the A’s and set a record for triples by a rookie, which still stands. That season, Baker was the first to hit the ball over the right field fence at the new Shibe Park, but he earned the nickname 'Home Run' by going deep on two occasions during the 1911 World Series. Baker played in four World Series with the A’s and led the league in round-trippers over four consecutive seasons from 1911 to 1914. He credited his power-hitting ability to his work on the family farm, and kept in shape by chopping wood in the offseason.
"Considered the best third baseman of the pre-war era, Baker went on to bat over .300 six times, and twice led the league in RBI. As a third baseman, he led the league in putouts seven times. Due to a salary dispute, Baker returned to his farm for the 1915 season. He was traded to the Yankees in 1916 where he had several good seasons before tragedy struck in 1920. Baker lost his wife to scarlet fever. Grief stricken, he took time off to care for his family, but returned to the Yankees in 1921 in time to play in two more World Series. Later, while managing in the Eastern Shore Baseball League, Baker discovered a pretty good ballplayer and recommended him to Connie Mack. That player was the great Jimmy Foxx."
In 1883, Francis Richter founded The Sporting Life, a weekly magazine devoted to coverage of all sports, with an emphasis on baseball. In 1887, Richter, and other baseball journalists, formed the Base Ball Reporters Association of America, also referred to as the National Base Ball Reporters' Association. And in 1914, Richter wrote the History and Records of Baseball: the American Nation's Chief Sport (Philadelphia: Sporting Life Publishing Co., 1914). In that historic book, Richter selected the greatest players in each position in each decade:
The National Baseball Hall of Fame provided research on how Frank, quite specifically, became better known as Home Run: "In 1911, Baker — who used an unusually heavy bat weighing 46 ounces — hit an AL-best 11 home runs and drove in 115 runs. In that year's World Series, Baker crafted his legend with game-winning home runs in Game 2 off future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard and in Game 3 against future Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson — the final blast handing Mathewson his first World Series defeat. Thereafter, the press referred to him as Home Run Baker."

Home Run Baker | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1955 (HOF)