Bake McBride facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bake McBride
Outfielder
Born: (1949-02-03) February 3, 1949 (age 76) Fulton, Missouri, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
July 26, 1973, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last appearance
October 1, 1983, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average	.299
Home runs	63
Runs batted in	430
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (1973–1977) Philadelphia Phillies (1977–1981) Cleveland Indians (1982–1983)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (1976) World Series champion (1980) NL Rookie of the Year (1974) Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame

Arnold Ray McBride, born on February 3, 1949, is a former professional baseball player. People called him "Shake 'n Bake" and "the Callaway Kid." He played as an Outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1983. His teams included the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cleveland Indians. He was most successful with the Phillies in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

McBride started his MLB career with the Cardinals in 1973. In 1974, he won the National League Rookie of the Year award. He also played in the 1976 MLB All-Star Game. McBride was a key player for the 1980 Phillies team that won the World Series. He even hit a three-run home run in the first game of that World Series.

Even though McBride was very fast, he often missed games due to injuries or sickness. He had two knee surgeries during his career. He also missed most of the 1982 season because of an eye infection. After he stopped playing, McBride coached for the New York Mets and the Cardinals in the minor leagues.

Bake McBride's Early Life and College

McBride was born in Fulton, Missouri. His father, Arnold McBride, was a pitcher for the Negro league baseball team called the Kansas City Monarchs. Bake McBride was a star athlete at Fulton High School. He was great at football and also played basketball and ran track. His high school did not have a baseball team.

McBride went to Westminster College in Missouri. There, he played baseball, basketball, and ran track. He even set a school record in the 200-meter dash. McBride pitched in college, but when he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals, they were more interested in his running speed.

The Cardinals picked McBride in the 37th round of the 1970 MLB draft. He was the last player chosen in that draft to play in the Major Leagues. McBride left college early to play professional baseball, but he later finished his degree from Westminster.

By 1972, McBride was playing for the Cardinals' minor league team in Little Rock. He then moved up to the Class AAA team in Tulsa. He was a bit unsure if he was ready for that level. In his first game there, he hit a ball that looked like a triple, but he was called out for missing second base.

Starting His Career with the Cardinals

McBride made his first appearance in the Major Leagues with the Cardinals in 1973. He only played in 40 games that year, so he was still considered a rookie for the next season. He became known for his unique look, including one of the biggest Afro hairstyles in baseball. Before batting, he would often wipe away the chalk lines of the batter's box. He also had an unusual batting style, putting his weight on his front foot instead of his back foot.

Rookie of the Year Season

Late in the 1974 season, McBride scored the winning run in a very long game against the New York Mets. The game lasted 25 innings and over seven hours. He hit a single, then scored from first base after a few errors by the Mets. He finished the 1974 season with 173 hits, 30 stolen bases, and a .309 batting average. He was named the National League's Rookie of the Year. He was the first Cardinal to win this award since Bill Virdon in 1955.

Bake McBride playing in 1974.

McBride said he learned a lot from his teammate Lou Brock. Brock stole 118 bases in 1974, which was a new record. Together, McBride's 30 steals and Brock's 118 steals set an MLB record for stolen bases by two teammates in one season. The 1974 Cardinals outfielders, McBride, Brock, and Reggie Smith, all hit over .300. This was the first time since 1902 that all three starting outfielders for the team achieved that.

Injuries and All-Star Selection

In 1975, McBride moved to the third spot in the Cardinals' batting order. He hurt his shoulder early in the season and missed almost a month. He also injured both ankles later that summer. By late July, his batting average was .255, which was lower than the year before. However, he played better at the end of the season and finished with a .300 batting average.

Before the 1976 season, McBride worked hard to get stronger. He gained ten pounds and started the season very well. He was chosen as the only Cardinals player for the 1976 MLB All-Star Game. That year, he had more shoulder and knee injuries. In August, he had surgery on his knee to fix cartilage. He had a .335 batting average when his season ended due to the injury.

Before the 1977 season, the Cardinals got a new manager, Vern Rapp. Rapp was very strict and did not allow players to have facial hair. This caused problems with McBride and teammate Al Hrabosky. In May 1977, McBride signed a new three-year contract with the Cardinals. About three weeks later, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Many believed that manager Rapp was the reason for the trade.

Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies

McBride played very well after joining the 1977 Phillies, hitting .338. The team won many games after he arrived and made it to the playoffs. McBride had played center field before, but since Garry Maddox played that position in Philadelphia, McBride moved to right field. Phillies fans really liked him and gave him the nickname "Shake 'n Bake."

In 1978, McBride had his lowest career batting average (.269). He played in only 122 games because of injuries and because the manager used a system where players shared positions. Before the 1979 season, there were rumors that McBride might be traded. The Phillies wanted to sign him to a new contract, or they would lose him as a free agent. He almost went to the Texas Rangers in a trade, but the Phillies owner stopped it. McBride then re-signed with the Phillies.

World Series Champion

In 1980, some fans unfairly thought McBride was lazy because of his knee problems and quiet personality. He ran with a unique style, which some people misunderstood as not trying hard. However, his knee joint was badly worn down, making him almost like a "one-legged player." McBride said he was not a very emotional person and did not want to pretend to be more intense just to please fans.

Even with pain in his feet and knees, McBride was a very consistent player for the Phillies in 1980. The Phillies made it to the 1980 World Series. In the first game, McBride hit a three-run home run that helped the Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals. The Phillies won the World Series in six games. McBride hit .304 in his only World Series. In the 1981 season, which was shorter due to a strike, McBride missed most of May because of knee issues. He had surgery on his left knee and then on his right knee in November.

Later Career with the Cleveland Indians

On February 16, 1982, McBride was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He said he would need to get used to pitchers in the American League. He also thought the grass field in Cleveland would be better for his knees than the artificial turf in Philadelphia.

McBride started the 1982 season as the Indians' starting right fielder. He was hitting .365 in 27 games. But then he got an eye infection and did not play after May 21. He said the infection was from his contact lenses. He had worn hard contact lenses since 1970 and had damaged his eyes. He could not switch to glasses while his eyes healed.

Before the 1983 season, McBride said his eye problems were gone after he got special contact lenses. He played in 70 games in 1983 but was on the disabled list twice. He became a free agent in October 1983.

After his playing career, McBride lived in Florissant, Missouri. He briefly owned a liquor store. The New York Mets then offered him a coaching job. In 1985, he became an outfield and baserunning coach for their minor league teams. He worked for the Mets for seven years.

In 1989, McBride played baseball again for a short time in a senior professional league. He played for the St. Petersburg Pelicans and Orlando Juice. He hit .296 in 29 games. In the 1990s, McBride was a hitting coach for the Cardinals' minor league teams.

Personal Life

McBride married Celeste Woodley, and they had three children. By 1976, McBride had opened a youth center in Fulton, Missouri. He lived in St. Louis during the baseball offseasons. His cousin, Ron McBride, played college football and later in the National Football League.

Early in his career, McBride said he didn't know how he got the nickname "Bake."

Career Statistics

In 22 postseason games from 1977 to 1981, McBride hit .244 with 8 runs, 3 home runs, and 8 RBI.