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Wikipedia

Don Baylor

Don Edward Baylor (June 28, 1949 – August 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball player and manager. During his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), Baylor was a power hitter known for standing very close to home plate ("crowding the plate") and was a first baseman, left fielder, and designated hitter. He played for six different American League (AL) teams, primarily the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels, but he also played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox. In 1979, Baylor was an All-Star and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. He won three Silver Slugger Awards, the Roberto Clemente Award, and was a member of the 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins.

Don Baylor
Baylor with the Colorado Rockies in 2010
Designated hitter / Left fielder
Born: (1949-06-28)June 28, 1949
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Died: August 7, 2017(2017-08-07) (aged 68)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 1970, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1988, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average.260
Hits2,135
Home runs338
Runs batted in1,276
Teams
As player

As manager

As coach

Career highlights and awards

After his playing career, Baylor managed the expansion Colorado Rockies for six years and the Chicago Cubs for three seasons. He was named NL Manager of the Year in 1995 and was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.

Baylor reached the World Series three times in his career, in consecutive years with three different teams. Baylor played in the World Series with the Red Sox in 1986, the Twins in 1987, and the A's in 1988, and he was on the winning side in 1987. Baylor is one of two players in history to accomplish this feat; Eric Hinske is the other. He set the Red Sox team record for most hit by pitches in a season (35 in 1986); in his career, he was hit by pitches 267 times, fourth-most all time.[1] Baylor retired with 285 stolen bases, 2,135 hits, and 338 home runs.[2]

Early life

Born in Austin, Texas, Baylor grew up in Clarksville. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School. After being one of three African Americans to integrate Texas public schools when he was in junior high school,[3] Baylor starred in baseball and football at Austin High, where he was the first African American to play athletics at that school.[4] Baylor was offered a scholarship to play college football for the Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas, which would have made him the first African American to play football at Texas.[5] He opted to pursue a baseball career, enrolling at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas.[6]

Professional career

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles selected Baylor in the second round of the 1967 MLB draft. He received a $7,500 signing bonus from the team.[2] In 1970, Baylor led the Triple-A level of the minor leagues with 34 doubles, 15 triples, 127 runs, and 140 games-played while playing for the Rochester Red Wings. The following year, he again led the Triple-A level in doubles with 31.[7] Baylor was called up to the major leagues by the Orioles on September 18, 1970. He debuted at home against Cleveland, accruing two hits and three runs batted in across five plate appearances, including a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning. Baylor only played a total of 9 games with the Orioles in the 1970 and 1971 seasons and did not see consistent involvement with the major league roster until 1972.

In his true rookie season in 1972, Baylor posted a .253 batting average, .416 slugging percentage, 11 home runs, and 38 runs batted in across 102 games. Baylor quickly became a respected hitter for the Orioles, averaging .280 at the plate, a .437 slugging percentage, 46 home runs, and 186 runs batted in between 1973 and 1975. He developed a reputation for getting hit by pitches, frequently leaning into off-target pitches and crowding the plate to get on first base without having to get a hit or work a base on balls. In 1973, Baylor led the American League in hit-by-pitches with 13 and he led the major leagues in 1975 with 13.[8]

Oakland Athletics

In a transaction influenced by his imminent free agency after the upcoming season, the Orioles traded Baylor with Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell to the Oakland Athletics for Reggie Jackson, Ken Holtzman and minor-league right-handed pitcher Bill Van Bommel on April 2, 1976.[9] In 1976, Baylor posted a .247 batting average and .368 slugging percentage with 15 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He once again led the major leagues in hit-by-pitches with 20.[8]

California Angels

In 1977, Baylor signed with the California Angels as a free agent, joining his former Baltimore teammate Bobby Grich in Anaheim. In 1978, his second season with the Angels, Baylor posted a .255 batting average, .472 slugging percentage, 34 home runs, 99 runs batted in, 22 stolen bases, and a league-leading 18 hit-by-pitches. He placed seventh in AL MVP voting that season. In 1979, Baylor led the majors with 139 runs batted in and 120 runs. He was an AL All-Star, the lone selection of his career. He won the AL's MVP award, gaining 20 of 28 first-place votes[10] and led the Angels to their first-ever AL West Division title.[2] Following his MVP season, Baylor's stats regressed. In 1980, he played only 90 games due to a wrist injury.[11] In those games, he posted a modest .250 batting average and .341 slugging percentage with 5 home runs, the lowest in any of his career seasons with double-digit games played. Baylor again missed time due to an injury in the 1981 season, playing only 103 games with an again-regressed batting average of .239 but an improved slugging percentage of .427 with 17 home runs and 66 runs batted in. Upon the arrival of superstar free agent Reggie Jackson in the 1982 offseason, Baylor took him in as a roommate.

In his autobiography titled Don Baylor: It's Nothing But The Truth - A Baseball Life, Baylor told how his friendship with Jackson was tumultuous at times, particularly some instances where Jackson was highly dismissive of fans who wanted pictures or autographs.[12] Baylor returned to full health in the 1982 season, playing 157 games and looking like his old self by posting a .263 batting average with a .424 slugging percentage accompanied by 24 home runs and 93 runs batted in. After Tommy John allowed three runs through the first three innings of the 1982 American League Championship Series against the Brewers, Baylor came up to John and said, "If you hold them to three runs, I'm personally good for four runs against [Milwaukee starter Mike] Caldwell."[13] Baylor delivered on his promise, batting in 5 runs that game as California came back to win 8–3.[13] John later called Baylor the team's "catalyst".[14] Baylor spent six seasons with the Angels and played a plurality of his games with the team. In that time, he batted .262 and slugged .448 with 141 home runs and 523 runs batted in.[8]

New York Yankees

 
Baylor with the New York Yankees

In 1983, Baylor signed a four-year, $3.7 million contract with the New York Yankees. Former Angels teammate Tommy John said of Baylor, "When we lost him, we lost our guts. Pitchers feared Don Baylor."[14] In his autobiography, Baylor told of Yankee alumnus Tommy John and Reggie Jackson warning Baylor not to sign with New York due to team owner George Steinbrenner's infamous strict and harsh attitude towards players. Baylor said that he found out for himself that the Yankees would treat free agent targets "like a celebrity" and then treat them like a "piece of trash" once they were on the team. In his autobiography, Baylor notes his rough experience in his first spring training with the Yankees as Steinbrenner would obsess over the exhibition games against the rivaling Mets and Red Sox or New York-televised games. This led to Steinbrenner demoting young players for poor performances in such spring training games. In one instance, Steinbrenner tried to make his team play in a televised game on a field that was made subpar by inclement weather.[12]

Baylor's first season with the Yankees was his statistical best as he batted .303 and slugged .494 with 21 home runs and 85 runs batted in. He was awarded his first career Silver Slugger award for his performance. The following season, Baylor's batting percentages dropped but he totaled higher counting stats in fewer games. Baylor had batted .262 and slugged .489 with 27 home runs and 89 runs batted in. Baylor also was less active on the basepaths in 1984, stealing only one base compared to his 17 in the previous season. In the third year of his stint with the Yankees, Baylor's percentages continued to decline, this time posting a .231 average and .430 slugging percentage. He earned his second career Silver Slugger that year. In his 3 seasons with the Yankees, Baylor batted .267, hit 71 home runs, and batted in 265 runs.[8]

Boston Red Sox

Following the 1985 season, Baylor was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Easler in 1986.[15][16] It was the first time the Yankees and Red Sox had traded with each other in 14 years.[17] In the 1986 season, Baylor batted .238 with a .439 slugging percentage, 31 home runs, and 94 runs batted in. He was awarded the third Silver Slugger of his career and placed 13th in AL MVP voting.[8]

While a member of the Red Sox, Baylor delivered a key hit in the 1986 American League Championship Series when he hit a two-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning during game five against the California Angels. At the time, the Angels led the series three games to one and were one out away from their first ALCS victory.[18] The Red Sox went on to win the game and eventually the ALCS, denying the Angels their first trip to the World Series. Al Michaels, broadcasting the game for ABC, called it the greatest baseball game he had ever seen.[19] However, the Red Sox would fall in the 1986 World Series to the New York Mets in seven games. Baylor played most of the 1987 season with Boston. In 108 games with the Red Sox that year, he batted .239, slugged .404, hit 16 home runs, and batted in 57 runs.[8]

Minnesota Twins

Late in the 1987 season, the Red Sox traded Baylor to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later that ended up being Enrique Rios. He played 20 regular-season games with the Twins and made the postseason roster that year. Baylor aided the Twins in the winning of their 1987 championship by accruing 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 home run, and 3 runs batted in during the World Series.[8]

Oakland Athletics (second stint)

Baylor returned to the Oakland Athletics in 1988, his final season as a player.[2] The 39-year old Baylor batted a career-low .220 and slugged .326 with 7 home runs and 34 runs batted in through 92 games.[8] Baylor was on the playoff roster for the American League champion Athletics that season. Following the season, he retired as a player from baseball.

Coaching and managerial career

After retiring as a player, Baylor served as a hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals until he was named the first manager of the expansion Colorado Rockies.[20] He led the team for six years from 1993 to 1998. The Rockies posted their first winning record (77–67) in 1995 and made the postseason as the wildcard team. As a result, Baylor won the National League Manager of the Year Award.[21]

After the 1998 season, Baylor was fired.[2] He finished his Rockies managerial career with a regular season record of 440–469 and a post–season record of 1–3.[22] He became the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1999 and was hired to manage the Chicago Cubs in 2000, a job he held through the 2002 season. He had a record of 187–220 with the Cubs.[22] From 2003 to 2004, he served as the bench coach for the New York Mets.[23] He spent the 2005 season with the Seattle Mariners as hitting coach under manager Mike Hargrove[24] and was as a fill-in analyst for MASN in 2007 for Washington Nationals broadcasts.[25]

Baylor served as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.[26] Baylor was replaced by Carney Lansford after the Rockies hit a franchise-low .226 on the road during the 2010 season.[27] Baylor was offered a special assistant position to remain with Colorado but turned it down.[28]

Baylor agreed on a two-year contract to become hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.[29] He was hired by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as their hitting coach for the 2014 season.[30] On March 31, 2014, Baylor suffered a fracture to his right femur while catching the ceremonial first pitch of the 2014 season, thrown by Vladimir Guerrero.[31] On April 1, 2014, he had surgery to have a plate and screws inserted into his leg.[32] On October 13, 2015, the Angels announced that Baylor would not return as the team hitting coach in 2016.[33]

Death

Baylor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003.[34] He died on August 7, 2017, at the age of 68.[4]

Managerial record

Team From To Regular season record Post–season record
G W L Win % G W L Win %
Colorado Rockies 1993 1998 909 440 469 .484 4 1 3 .250
Chicago Cubs 2000 2002 407 187 220 .459
Total 1316 627 689 .476 4 1 3 .250
Ref.:[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Hit By Pitch". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Don Baylor - Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Harding, Thomas (January 20, 2016). "Don Baylor overcame obstacles off the field". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Bohls, Kirk (August 7, 2017). . Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  5. ^ Reid, Scott M. (December 23, 2005). . The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  6. ^ Roy, Reagan. "Texas native, MLB legend Don Baylor dies at 68 – Story". Easttexasmatters.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  7. ^ Norman MacLean, ed. (1988). 1988 Who's Who in Baseball. New York: Who's Who in Baseball Magazine Company, Inc.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Don Baylor Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Athletics send Jackson, Ken Holtzman to Orioles," United Press International (UPI), Saturday, April 3, 1976. Retrieved May 4, 2020
  10. ^ 100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Dan Connolly, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2015, ISBN 978-1-62937-041-5, p.126
  11. ^ Tosches, Rich (April 1, 1981). "One in a series of major league baseball team sizeups. Today: The California Angels". UPI. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Baylor, Don (April 3, 1989). Don Baylor: It's Nothing But The Truth - A Baseball Life. Long Island, New York: Newsday LLC. ProQuest 278116357. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ^ a b John and Valenti, pp. 240-41
  14. ^ a b John and Valenti, p. 243
  15. ^ Neff, Craig. "HIS HONOR, DON BAYLOR". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  16. ^ Michaels, Al with Jon L. Wertheim (2014) You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television, New York: Harper Collins [1]
  17. ^ Anderson, R.J. (January 25, 2021). "Yankees-Red Sox trades: Brief history of deals between rivals, from Great Bambino to Adam Ottavino". CBS Sports. ViacomCBS. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  18. ^ Newhan, Ross (October 13, 1986). "Ghost of Seasons Past Visit Angel's Mauch in Game 5". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California).
  19. ^ Michaels, Al with Jon L. Wertheim (2014) You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television, New York: Harper Collins [2]
  20. ^ Allen, Scott. "The true legacy of Don Baylor, an MVP and World Series champ, is his legendary toughness". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  21. ^ "Don Baylor, former MVP and manager of year, dies at 68". Los Angeles Times. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  22. ^ a b c "Don Baylor". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  23. ^ "Don Baylor, former MVP who was Yankees DH and Mets coach, dead at 68". The Star-Ledger. April 2, 1976. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  24. ^ "Mariners' hitting, pitching coaches resign". ESPN. October 3, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  25. ^ . SportsBusiness Daily. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  26. ^ Renck, Troy E. (October 15, 2010). "Lansford takes over as Rockies' new hitting coach". The Denver Post.
  27. ^ Armstrong, Jim (March 4, 2011). "Lansford changes way Rockies' hitters think". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  28. ^ Renck, Troy E. (March 3, 2015). "DBacks to hire Baylor as new hitting coach". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  29. ^ Renck, Troy E. (October 25, 2010). "D-Backs to hire Baylor as new hitting coach". The Denver Post.
  30. ^ "Don Baylor leaving Arizona Diamondbacks for Los Angeles Angels". The Arizona Republic. October 16, 2013.
  31. ^ Perry, Dayn (March 31, 2014). "Don Baylor fractures femur while receiving first pitch, set for surgery". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  32. ^ The Star Ledger April 2, 2014. section 5 pg. 53
  33. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (October 13, 2015). "Angels fire hitting coach Don Baylor and pitching coach Mike Butcher". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  34. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (January 20, 2016). "Diamondbacks hitting coach Don Baylor leading fight against Multiple Myeloma". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  • John, Tommy; Valenti, Dan (1991). TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball. New York: Bantam. ISBN 0-553-07184-X.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Don Baylor managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
  • Retrosheet
  • Don Baylor at Find a Grave
Sporting positions
Preceded by Milwaukee Brewers Hitting Coach
1990–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by St. Louis Cardinals Hitting Coach
1992
Succeeded by
Preceded by Atlanta Braves Hitting Coach
1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Seattle Mariners Hitting Coach
2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Colorado Rockies Hitting Coach
2009–2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Arizona Diamondbacks Hitting Coach
2011–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Hitting Coach
2014–2015
Succeeded by

baylor, edward, baylor, june, 1949, august, 2017, american, professional, baseball, player, manager, during, seasons, major, league, baseball, baylor, power, hitter, known, standing, very, close, home, plate, crowding, plate, first, baseman, left, fielder, des. Don Edward Baylor June 28 1949 August 7 2017 was an American professional baseball player and manager During his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball MLB Baylor was a power hitter known for standing very close to home plate crowding the plate and was a first baseman left fielder and designated hitter He played for six different American League AL teams primarily the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels but he also played for the Oakland Athletics New York Yankees Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox In 1979 Baylor was an All Star and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award He won three Silver Slugger Awards the Roberto Clemente Award and was a member of the 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins Don BaylorBaylor with the Colorado Rockies in 2010Designated hitter Left fielderBorn 1949 06 28 June 28 1949Austin Texas U S Died August 7 2017 2017 08 07 aged 68 Austin Texas U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 18 1970 for the Baltimore OriolesLast MLB appearanceOctober 1 1988 for the Oakland AthleticsMLB statisticsBatting average 260Hits2 135Home runs338Runs batted in1 276TeamsAs player Baltimore Orioles 1970 1975 Oakland Athletics 1976 California Angels 1977 1982 New York Yankees 1983 1985 Boston Red Sox 1986 1987 Minnesota Twins 1987 Oakland Athletics 1988 As manager Colorado Rockies 1993 1998 Chicago Cubs 2000 2002 As coach Milwaukee Brewers 1990 1991 St Louis Cardinals 1992 Atlanta Braves 1999 New York Mets 2003 2004 Seattle Mariners 2005 Colorado Rockies 2009 2010 Arizona Diamondbacks 2011 2013 Los Angeles Angels 2014 2015 Career highlights and awardsAll Star 1979 World Series champion 1987 AL MVP 1979 3 Silver Slugger Award 1983 1985 1986 Roberto Clemente Award 1985 AL RBI leader 1979 NL Manager of the Year 1995 Angels Hall of FameAfter his playing career Baylor managed the expansion Colorado Rockies for six years and the Chicago Cubs for three seasons He was named NL Manager of the Year in 1995 and was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame Baylor reached the World Series three times in his career in consecutive years with three different teams Baylor played in the World Series with the Red Sox in 1986 the Twins in 1987 and the A s in 1988 and he was on the winning side in 1987 Baylor is one of two players in history to accomplish this feat Eric Hinske is the other He set the Red Sox team record for most hit by pitches in a season 35 in 1986 in his career he was hit by pitches 267 times fourth most all time 1 Baylor retired with 285 stolen bases 2 135 hits and 338 home runs 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career 2 1 Baltimore Orioles 2 2 Oakland Athletics 2 3 California Angels 2 4 New York Yankees 2 5 Boston Red Sox 2 6 Minnesota Twins 2 7 Oakland Athletics second stint 3 Coaching and managerial career 4 Death 5 Managerial record 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Austin Texas Baylor grew up in Clarksville He graduated from Stephen F Austin High School After being one of three African Americans to integrate Texas public schools when he was in junior high school 3 Baylor starred in baseball and football at Austin High where he was the first African American to play athletics at that school 4 Baylor was offered a scholarship to play college football for the Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas which would have made him the first African American to play football at Texas 5 He opted to pursue a baseball career enrolling at Blinn Junior College in Brenham Texas 6 Professional career EditBaltimore Orioles Edit The Baltimore Orioles selected Baylor in the second round of the 1967 MLB draft He received a 7 500 signing bonus from the team 2 In 1970 Baylor led the Triple A level of the minor leagues with 34 doubles 15 triples 127 runs and 140 games played while playing for the Rochester Red Wings The following year he again led the Triple A level in doubles with 31 7 Baylor was called up to the major leagues by the Orioles on September 18 1970 He debuted at home against Cleveland accruing two hits and three runs batted in across five plate appearances including a walk off RBI single in the 11th inning Baylor only played a total of 9 games with the Orioles in the 1970 and 1971 seasons and did not see consistent involvement with the major league roster until 1972 In his true rookie season in 1972 Baylor posted a 253 batting average 416 slugging percentage 11 home runs and 38 runs batted in across 102 games Baylor quickly became a respected hitter for the Orioles averaging 280 at the plate a 437 slugging percentage 46 home runs and 186 runs batted in between 1973 and 1975 He developed a reputation for getting hit by pitches frequently leaning into off target pitches and crowding the plate to get on first base without having to get a hit or work a base on balls In 1973 Baylor led the American League in hit by pitches with 13 and he led the major leagues in 1975 with 13 8 Oakland Athletics Edit In a transaction influenced by his imminent free agency after the upcoming season the Orioles traded Baylor with Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell to the Oakland Athletics for Reggie Jackson Ken Holtzman and minor league right handed pitcher Bill Van Bommel on April 2 1976 9 In 1976 Baylor posted a 247 batting average and 368 slugging percentage with 15 home runs and 68 runs batted in He once again led the major leagues in hit by pitches with 20 8 California Angels Edit In 1977 Baylor signed with the California Angels as a free agent joining his former Baltimore teammate Bobby Grich in Anaheim In 1978 his second season with the Angels Baylor posted a 255 batting average 472 slugging percentage 34 home runs 99 runs batted in 22 stolen bases and a league leading 18 hit by pitches He placed seventh in AL MVP voting that season In 1979 Baylor led the majors with 139 runs batted in and 120 runs He was an AL All Star the lone selection of his career He won the AL s MVP award gaining 20 of 28 first place votes 10 and led the Angels to their first ever AL West Division title 2 Following his MVP season Baylor s stats regressed In 1980 he played only 90 games due to a wrist injury 11 In those games he posted a modest 250 batting average and 341 slugging percentage with 5 home runs the lowest in any of his career seasons with double digit games played Baylor again missed time due to an injury in the 1981 season playing only 103 games with an again regressed batting average of 239 but an improved slugging percentage of 427 with 17 home runs and 66 runs batted in Upon the arrival of superstar free agent Reggie Jackson in the 1982 offseason Baylor took him in as a roommate In his autobiography titled Don Baylor It s Nothing But The Truth A Baseball Life Baylor told how his friendship with Jackson was tumultuous at times particularly some instances where Jackson was highly dismissive of fans who wanted pictures or autographs 12 Baylor returned to full health in the 1982 season playing 157 games and looking like his old self by posting a 263 batting average with a 424 slugging percentage accompanied by 24 home runs and 93 runs batted in After Tommy John allowed three runs through the first three innings of the 1982 American League Championship Series against the Brewers Baylor came up to John and said If you hold them to three runs I m personally good for four runs against Milwaukee starter Mike Caldwell 13 Baylor delivered on his promise batting in 5 runs that game as California came back to win 8 3 13 John later called Baylor the team s catalyst 14 Baylor spent six seasons with the Angels and played a plurality of his games with the team In that time he batted 262 and slugged 448 with 141 home runs and 523 runs batted in 8 New York Yankees Edit Baylor with the New York Yankees In 1983 Baylor signed a four year 3 7 million contract with the New York Yankees Former Angels teammate Tommy John said of Baylor When we lost him we lost our guts Pitchers feared Don Baylor 14 In his autobiography Baylor told of Yankee alumnus Tommy John and Reggie Jackson warning Baylor not to sign with New York due to team owner George Steinbrenner s infamous strict and harsh attitude towards players Baylor said that he found out for himself that the Yankees would treat free agent targets like a celebrity and then treat them like a piece of trash once they were on the team In his autobiography Baylor notes his rough experience in his first spring training with the Yankees as Steinbrenner would obsess over the exhibition games against the rivaling Mets and Red Sox or New York televised games This led to Steinbrenner demoting young players for poor performances in such spring training games In one instance Steinbrenner tried to make his team play in a televised game on a field that was made subpar by inclement weather 12 Baylor s first season with the Yankees was his statistical best as he batted 303 and slugged 494 with 21 home runs and 85 runs batted in He was awarded his first career Silver Slugger award for his performance The following season Baylor s batting percentages dropped but he totaled higher counting stats in fewer games Baylor had batted 262 and slugged 489 with 27 home runs and 89 runs batted in Baylor also was less active on the basepaths in 1984 stealing only one base compared to his 17 in the previous season In the third year of his stint with the Yankees Baylor s percentages continued to decline this time posting a 231 average and 430 slugging percentage He earned his second career Silver Slugger that year In his 3 seasons with the Yankees Baylor batted 267 hit 71 home runs and batted in 265 runs 8 Boston Red Sox Edit Following the 1985 season Baylor was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Easler in 1986 15 16 It was the first time the Yankees and Red Sox had traded with each other in 14 years 17 In the 1986 season Baylor batted 238 with a 439 slugging percentage 31 home runs and 94 runs batted in He was awarded the third Silver Slugger of his career and placed 13th in AL MVP voting 8 While a member of the Red Sox Baylor delivered a key hit in the 1986 American League Championship Series when he hit a two run home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning during game five against the California Angels At the time the Angels led the series three games to one and were one out away from their first ALCS victory 18 The Red Sox went on to win the game and eventually the ALCS denying the Angels their first trip to the World Series Al Michaels broadcasting the game for ABC called it the greatest baseball game he had ever seen 19 However the Red Sox would fall in the 1986 World Series to the New York Mets in seven games Baylor played most of the 1987 season with Boston In 108 games with the Red Sox that year he batted 239 slugged 404 hit 16 home runs and batted in 57 runs 8 Minnesota Twins Edit Late in the 1987 season the Red Sox traded Baylor to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later that ended up being Enrique Rios He played 20 regular season games with the Twins and made the postseason roster that year Baylor aided the Twins in the winning of their 1987 championship by accruing 5 hits 3 runs 1 home run and 3 runs batted in during the World Series 8 Oakland Athletics second stint Edit Baylor returned to the Oakland Athletics in 1988 his final season as a player 2 The 39 year old Baylor batted a career low 220 and slugged 326 with 7 home runs and 34 runs batted in through 92 games 8 Baylor was on the playoff roster for the American League champion Athletics that season Following the season he retired as a player from baseball Coaching and managerial career EditAfter retiring as a player Baylor served as a hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals until he was named the first manager of the expansion Colorado Rockies 20 He led the team for six years from 1993 to 1998 The Rockies posted their first winning record 77 67 in 1995 and made the postseason as the wildcard team As a result Baylor won the National League Manager of the Year Award 21 After the 1998 season Baylor was fired 2 He finished his Rockies managerial career with a regular season record of 440 469 and a post season record of 1 3 22 He became the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1999 and was hired to manage the Chicago Cubs in 2000 a job he held through the 2002 season He had a record of 187 220 with the Cubs 22 From 2003 to 2004 he served as the bench coach for the New York Mets 23 He spent the 2005 season with the Seattle Mariners as hitting coach under manager Mike Hargrove 24 and was as a fill in analyst for MASN in 2007 for Washington Nationals broadcasts 25 Baylor served as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies during the 2009 and 2010 seasons 26 Baylor was replaced by Carney Lansford after the Rockies hit a franchise low 226 on the road during the 2010 season 27 Baylor was offered a special assistant position to remain with Colorado but turned it down 28 Baylor agreed on a two year contract to become hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2011 and 2012 seasons 29 He was hired by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as their hitting coach for the 2014 season 30 On March 31 2014 Baylor suffered a fracture to his right femur while catching the ceremonial first pitch of the 2014 season thrown by Vladimir Guerrero 31 On April 1 2014 he had surgery to have a plate and screws inserted into his leg 32 On October 13 2015 the Angels announced that Baylor would not return as the team hitting coach in 2016 33 Death EditBaylor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003 34 He died on August 7 2017 at the age of 68 4 Managerial record EditTeam From To Regular season record Post season recordG W L Win G W L Win Colorado Rockies 1993 1998 909 440 469 484 4 1 3 250Chicago Cubs 2000 2002 407 187 220 459 Total 1316 627 689 476 4 1 3 250Ref 22 See also Edit Biography portal Baseball portal Texas portalList of Major League Baseball career home run leaders List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders List of St Louis Cardinals coachesReferences Edit Career Leaders amp Records for Hit By Pitch Baseball Reference com January 1 1970 Retrieved August 7 2017 a b c d e Don Baylor Society for American Baseball Research sabr org Retrieved August 7 2017 Harding Thomas January 20 2016 Don Baylor overcame obstacles off the field Major League Baseball Retrieved August 7 2017 a b Bohls Kirk August 7 2017 Former MLB star Austin native Don Baylor dies at 68 Austin American Statesman Archived from the original on August 7 2017 Retrieved August 7 2017 Reid Scott M December 23 2005 Millions watched the Texas Arkansas game in 1969 The Orange County Register Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved August 21 2007 Roy Reagan Texas native MLB legend Don Baylor dies at 68 Story Easttexasmatters com Retrieved August 7 2017 Norman MacLean ed 1988 1988 Who s Who in Baseball New York Who s Who in Baseball Magazine Company Inc a b c d e f g h Don Baylor Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved February 4 2022 Athletics send Jackson Ken Holtzman to Orioles United Press International UPI Saturday April 3 1976 Retrieved May 4 2020 100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die Dan Connolly Triumph Books Chicago 2015 ISBN 978 1 62937 041 5 p 126 Tosches Rich April 1 1981 One in a series of major league baseball team sizeups Today The California Angels UPI Retrieved February 4 2022 a b Baylor Don April 3 1989 Don Baylor It s Nothing But The Truth A Baseball Life Long Island New York Newsday LLC ProQuest 278116357 Retrieved February 4 2022 a b John and Valenti pp 240 41 a b John and Valenti p 243 Neff Craig HIS HONOR DON BAYLOR Sports Illustrated Retrieved August 7 2017 Michaels Al with Jon L Wertheim 2014 You Can t Make This Stuff Up Miracles Memories and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television New York Harper Collins 1 Anderson R J January 25 2021 Yankees Red Sox trades Brief history of deals between rivals from Great Bambino to Adam Ottavino CBS Sports ViacomCBS Retrieved February 4 2022 Newhan Ross October 13 1986 Ghost of Seasons Past Visit Angel s Mauch in Game 5 The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles California Michaels Al with Jon L Wertheim 2014 You Can t Make This Stuff Up Miracles Memories and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television New York Harper Collins 2 Allen Scott The true legacy of Don Baylor an MVP and World Series champ is his legendary toughness The Washington Post Retrieved August 7 2017 Don Baylor former MVP and manager of year dies at 68 Los Angeles Times August 7 2017 Retrieved August 7 2017 a b c Don Baylor Baseball Reference Sports Reference Retrieved September 23 2015 Don Baylor former MVP who was Yankees DH and Mets coach dead at 68 The Star Ledger April 2 1976 Retrieved August 7 2017 Mariners hitting pitching coaches resign ESPN October 3 2005 Retrieved August 7 2017 After rough start MASN starts to hit its stride SportsBusiness Daily SportsBusiness Daily Global SportsBusiness Daily Archived from the original on August 8 2017 Retrieved August 7 2017 Renck Troy E October 15 2010 Lansford takes over as Rockies new hitting coach The Denver Post Armstrong Jim March 4 2011 Lansford changes way Rockies hitters think The Denver Post Retrieved August 7 2017 Renck Troy E March 3 2015 DBacks to hire Baylor as new hitting coach The Denver Post Retrieved August 7 2017 Renck Troy E October 25 2010 D Backs to hire Baylor as new hitting coach The Denver Post Don Baylor leaving Arizona Diamondbacks for Los Angeles Angels The Arizona Republic October 16 2013 Perry Dayn March 31 2014 Don Baylor fractures femur while receiving first pitch set for surgery CBS Sports Retrieved April 1 2014 The Star Ledger April 2 2014 section 5 pg 53 DiGiovanna Mike October 13 2015 Angels fire hitting coach Don Baylor and pitching coach Mike Butcher Los Angeles Times Retrieved August 7 2017 Bloom Barry M January 20 2016 Diamondbacks hitting coach Don Baylor leading fight against Multiple Myeloma Major League Baseball Retrieved August 7 2017 John Tommy Valenti Dan 1991 TJ My Twenty Six Years in Baseball New York Bantam ISBN 0 553 07184 X External links EditCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Don Baylor managerial career statistics at Baseball Reference com Retrosheet Don Baylor at Find a GraveSporting positionsPreceded byTony Muser Milwaukee Brewers Hitting Coach1990 1991 Succeeded byMike EaslerPreceded bySteve Braun St Louis Cardinals Hitting Coach1992 Succeeded byChris ChamblissPreceded byClarence Jones Atlanta Braves Hitting Coach1999 Succeeded byMerv RettenmundPreceded byPaul Molitor Seattle Mariners Hitting Coach2005 Succeeded byJeff PentlandPreceded byAlan Cockrell Colorado Rockies Hitting Coach2009 2010 Succeeded byCarney LansfordPreceded byJack Howell Arizona Diamondbacks Hitting Coach2011 2013 Succeeded byTurner WardPreceded byJim Eppard Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Hitting Coach2014 2015 Succeeded byDave Hansen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Baylor amp oldid 1149893377, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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