Del Baker

Baker in 1941

Catcher

Born: May 3, 1892
Sherwood, Oregon

Died: September 11, 1973 (aged 81)
Olmos Park, Texas

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut

April 16, 1914, for the Detroit Tigers

Last MLB appearance

September 30, 1916, for the Detroit Tigers

MLB statistics

.209

Teams

Career highlights and awards

Delmer David Baker (May 3, 1892 – September 11, 1973) was an American catcher, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). As a manager, he led the 1940 Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant. He was known as one of the premier sign stealers of his era.

Baker was born in Sherwood, Oregon, and raised in neighboring Wilsonville. After graduating from a Portland business college, he took a job in 1909 as a bookkeeper in Wasco, Oregon, where he caught for the town team. In 1911, a scout signed him to a contract with the Spokane Indians of the Class A (equivalent to today's Triple A) Pacific National League, predecessor to the Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 1914 he was promoted to the Detroit Tigers, and played in 172 games over three seasons as a back-up for Oscar Stanage, batting .209. In 1917, the Tigers farmed him out to the PCL's San Francisco Seals. In 1918 he joined the war effort, serving in the US Navy, then returned to the PCL in 1920, this time with the Portland Beavers. After three seasons there, Baker spent a season with the Mobile Bears of the Class A Southern Association, then returned to the PCL for three more seasons with the Oakland Oaks.