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Gene Baker

Gene Baker
GeneBakerBowman.jpg
Second baseman
Born: (1925-06-15)June 15, 1925
Davenport, Iowa
Died: December 1, 1999(1999-12-01) (aged 74)
Davenport, Iowa
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 20, 1953, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 1961, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average .265
Home runs 39
Runs batted in 227
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Eugene Walter Baker (June 15, 1925 – December 1, 1999) was an American Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates during eight seasons between 1953 and 1961, and was selected for the National League team in the 1955 All-Star Game. He threw and batted right-handed, and was listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m), 170 pounds (77 kg).

A native of Davenport, Iowa, Baker starred on the basketball and track teams at Davenport High School, and played sandlot baseball, then went into the United States Navy, being stationed at Ottumwa Naval Air Station and Iowa Pre-Flight School. After his release from the Navy, he played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League as their regular shortstop during 1948 and 1949.

In 1950, Baker joined the Cubs' organization, playing briefly at Springfield and Des Moines before joining the Los Angeles Angels, of the Triple-A and Open Classification Pacific Coast League, where he impressed all with his fielding and baserunning. Bobby Bragan, manager of the Angels’ chief rivals, the Hollywood Stars, said Baker was "as good a shortstop as I’ve ever seen – and that includes Pee Wee Reese."


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Wikipedia

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