Gene Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gene Baker |
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| Second baseman | |||||||||||||
| Born: June 15, 1925 Davenport, Iowa |
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| Died: December 1, 1999 (aged 74) Davenport, Iowa |
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| Professional debut | |||||||||||||
| NgL: 1948, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||||||||||||
| MLB: September 20, 1953, for the Chicago Cubs | |||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||
| June 10, 1961, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||
| Batting average | .265 | ||||||||||||
| Home runs | 39 | ||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 227 | ||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Eugene Walter Baker (born June 15, 1925 – died December 1, 1999) was an American baseball player. He played as an infielder in Major League Baseball. Gene played for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. His career lasted eight seasons, from 1953 to 1961. He was chosen for the National League team in the 1955 All-Star Game. Gene threw and batted right-handed. He was 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 170 pounds.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Gene Baker was born in Davenport, Iowa. He was a talented athlete from a young age. At Davenport High School, he was a star in both basketball and track. He also played sandlot baseball, which is like informal baseball games.
After high school, Gene joined the United States Navy. He served from 1943 to 1946. After his time in the Navy, he played professional baseball. He joined the Kansas City Monarchs. This team was part of the Negro American League. He played as their main shortstop in 1948 and 1949.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
In 1950, Gene Baker joined the Cubs' baseball organization. He played for a short time in Springfield and Des Moines. Then, he moved to the Los Angeles Angels. This team was in the Pacific Coast League, which was a high level of minor league baseball.
Gene really impressed people with his amazing fielding and fast baserunning. Bobby Bragan, who managed a rival team, said Gene was "as good a shortstop as I’ve ever seen." This showed how talented Gene was on the field.
Gene Baker in Major League Baseball
The Chicago Cubs bought Gene Baker's contract. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 20, 1953. Soon after, the Cubs also got another great shortstop, Ernie Banks. Ernie Banks later became a famous Hall of Famer.
Because of Ernie, the Cubs moved Gene Baker to second base. They thought he could adjust to a new position more easily. Gene mostly played second base for the Cubs and later the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for eight seasons in total. In 1960, he was a reserve infielder for the World Series champion Pirates. He played in three games during the World Series as a pinch-hitter.
After His Playing Career
After he stopped playing, Gene Baker continued to make history in baseball. In 1961, he became the first African-American manager in Organized Baseball. He managed the Batavia Pirates, which was a minor league team.
In 1962, he became the first Black coach in Organized Baseball. He was a player-coach for the Columbus Jets. This was a Triple-A team, just one step below the Major Leagues. The next year, in 1963, the Pirates promoted him to coach their Major League team. He was the second Black coach in the big leagues.
Gene Baker is also known for being the first Black manager in Major League Baseball. This happened when he took over for the Pirates' manager, Danny Murtaugh, who was ejected from a game on September 21, 1963. After his coaching days, Gene spent many years working as a scout for the Pirates. He helped find new talented players.
His Final Years
Gene Baker passed away in Davenport, Iowa, when he was 74 years old. He is buried in Rock Island National Cemetery.
See also
