Baker Was a "Home Run" For Baseball

When you hear the name Frank Baker, even some baseball historians will say "Who?" That's because no one referred to him as Frank after a while, but simply Home Run Baker. He had a remarkable, yet somewhat short run in baseball that left him regarded as one of the best third basemen ever.

Baker first played for the Philadelphia Athletics for seven seasons. While there, he was part of the $100,000 infield, which included Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins and Jack Barry. They lead the Athletics to 4 American League Pennants and 3 World Series titles. As great as the defense was, it was Baker who became a great home run hitter for his time.

From 1911-1914, Baker led the American League in home runs. It was in the 1911 World Series that he got his nickname, as he hit a home run in back to back games to wrap up the series for the Athletics.

His numbers for a power hitter look pretty pedestrian by today's standards, but his 48 home runs in 7 seasons for the Athletics made him one of the most feared sluggers ever in the year early part of the 20th century.

Baker would play six more seasons, all with the Yankees. He would win two more pennants with them, but no World Series rings. His best season with them included a 10 home run, 83 RBI campaign in 1919.

The Veteran's Committee found Home Run Baker fit for induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, and he continues to be praised for his skill at the plate in the dead ball era.

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Cap Anson - One of the First Baseball Superstars

When you think of 19th century baseball, it's hard to ignore Cap Anson, one of baseball's first superstars. The boy from Iowa played 27 seasons of professional baseball, and at the time of his retirement, owned numerous records.

Anson played a few seasons with the Rockford Forest Citys and Philadelphia Athletics before finally signing with the team he is most known for, the Chicago White Stockings/Colts (now known as the Cubs).

The 1st basemen started slowly for Chicago, but after being named captain-manager of the club in 1879, he really started to play well. His managerial skills helped revolutionize the game, bringing fresh ideas to help win 5 pennants in his first 8 years with the team. He starting doing the hit and run, having base coaches and rotating pitchers to give them more rest.

Anson also credits his installation of spring training to helping his team have an advantage. With all these new tactics, the best part of the team was Anson produced himself. He won four batting titles and seven RBI titles during his tenure. His best year came in 1881, when he hit .399 and drove in 82 runs (leading the league in both).

Anson would stay with Chicago all the way until 1897. His skills diminished somewhat during the latter part of his career, but he did bat over .300 in 20 of his 27 total seasons.

When he retired, Anson was the all-time leader in games, hits, at-bats, doubles and runs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, and remains known as one of the first pioneers of the sport. He will also always have the distinction of being the first guy into the exclusive 3000 hit club.

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Bancroft Did Everything in Baseball Well

Dave Bancroft was never a bonafide star at any level of baseball, but the steady shortstop nonetheless had a remarkably long and successful career at the pro level.

Things started slowly for the guy they called "Beauty" (he would yell this to opposing pitchers in the minors). He played six seasons in the minors, and even by then he was still a raw, crosshanded slap hitter. He would later correct this fundamental error, and actually became a solid switch-hitter.

His first season, the Phillies won their first pennant in team history. Manager Pat Moran claimed Bancroft was the main reason for their success. He was a born leader, as he would later become the Braves' player-manager.

If ever there was a guy who could make a living doing the little things, it was him. His two best skills was slapping a ball in a hole (especially during hit and runs) and having outstanding range.

His glove will be the lasting memory of Bancroft's. He led the league in put outs a few seasons, and was also a very vocal leader on defense. His defense is what kept his teams in games when times were tough.

Nothing gave more credit to Bancroft's success as a steady player than when the Veteran's Committee inducted him into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. He never had flashy numbers (hit .279 with 32 home runs, 434 RBI and 145 stolen bases for his career), but he did enough in the voter's eyes to be named among the best ever.

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