Though he never hit more than 12 homers in a season, third baseman Frank Baker led the American League in round-trippers in four straight years during the Deadball Era.

Acquired by Connie Mack in 1908, Baker was the starting third baseman the following season. In 1909, Mack put together the Athletics’ famed $100,000 infield — with Stuffy McInnis at first, Eddie Collins at second, and Jack Berry at shortstop.

On May 29th that season, Baker hit the first home run ever knocked over the fence at Shibe Park. He finished 6th in the AL home run race in 1909, the first of his nine top-10 finishes.

Baker helped Mack’s Athletics reach the World Series in 1910, ’11, ’13, and ’14, coming away with the title in each of the first three tries. The 1914 version of the Athletics’ infield was hailed by Bill James as the greatest infield of all time.

Baker remained with the Athletics until the Yankees purchased his services before the start of the 1916 season. Though he failed to maintain the production of his time in Philadelphia, he finished in the top-ten in homers each of his first four seasons in New York.

During his six years with the Yankees, he returned to the Fall Classic twice, losing to John McGraw‘s New York Giants in 1921 and ’22.

Interestingly third base was the only defensive position of Baker’s 1,575-game big league career. A modest, clean-living man, Baker never drank, smoked, or swore. Voted into Cooperstown in 1955, Baker enjoyed eight years as a Hall of Famer before passing away in 1963.

Shown here is his ornate signature, Frank “Home Run” Baker.

After getting viciously spiked in Game One of the 1911 Fall Classic, Frank Baker took revenge with his bat. The excitement started in the sixth inning of Game One. Giants center fielder Fred Snodgrass stood at second base in a 1-to-1 tie. When Chief Bender delivered a pitch in the dirt, Snodgrass broke for third. Baker received the throw from catcher Ira Thomas and blocked the bag.

His spikes sharpened, Snodgrass slid hard, severely gashing the third baseman’s arm. Baker dropped the ball and Snodgrass was safe. Athletics medical personnel rushed to the bleeding Baker. The trainer patched up the wound. Bloodied but unbroken, Baker insisted on remaining in the game. The Giants pushed across a run in the following inning and won the game 2-1.

In Game Two Baker began his revenge. In the sixth inning of a 1-1 tie, Baker came to bat. With one on and two out, Baker smashed a Rube Marquard fastball over the right field fence to push the Athletics in front. Philadelphia’s Eddie Plank shut down the Giants the rest of the way to earn the complete-game victory.

Baker’s heroics were not finished.

In Game Three Cooperstown man Christy Mathewson stifled A’s hitters through eight innings to lead 1-0. After retiring Eddie Collins to start the 9th, Mathewson faced Baker. Down to their final two outs, the Athletics were desperate. Baker changed the complexion of the game with his second home run of the series.

At the height of the Deadball Era, homers were in short supply. Baker, who hit .334 with 115 RBI in the regular season led the AL with 11 long balls. Slugging two in the Fall Classic was no small feat.

Snodgrass led off the 10th with a walk and was sacrificed to second. On the next pitch catcher Chief Meyers let a Jack Coombs breaking ball scoot by him. Representing the game-winning walk-off run, Snodgrass took off for third. Myers fired to Baker as Snodgrass again came into the bag and again spiked the A’s star. Despite getting cut up for the second time in three days, the determined Baker received the throw, applied the tag, and recorded the out.

In the 11th Baker was again in the middle of an Athletics rally. His one-out single advanced go-ahead run Collins to third. When shortstop Art Fletcher booted Danny Murphy’s grounder, Collins scored and Baker advanced to third. Harry Davis then singled home Baker for a much-needed insurance run.

In the bottom of the frame New York’s Buck Herzog led off with a double and eventually scored when Collins misplayed a ground ball off of Beals Becker’s bat. With two out, potential tying run Becker tried to steal second base but was gunned down by Chief Myers to end the game. Baker’s insurance run proved to be the difference.

In the postgame clubhouse, writers swarmed Philadelphia hero Baker. Blood oozing from the bandages on his arm, Baker patiently answered the reporters’ questions. Repeatedly they asked about Snodgrass’ motivations. At first Baker brushed aside the queries. When the Baltimore Sun’s C. Mathews pressed Baker about Snodgrass, Baker could take no more. “Yes, Snodgrass spiked me intentionally. He acted like a swell-headed busher. You can use those very words, too.”

The Athletics eventually closed out the Series with a 13-2 drubbing of the Giants in Game Six. Baker finished the tilt by leading both teams in hits, home runs, and RBI. His Fall Classic slash line of .375/.400/.708 ensured the 25-year old’s place as a World Series star. Baker’s courage and fortitude in the face of Snodgrass’ spike jobs made him a legend.

In the collection is this letter penned and signed by Fred Snodgrass. Dated November 5, 1955, the letter references the Dodgers’ Fall Classic victory – their only championship representing Brooklyn.

Snodgrass writes in part, “Was happy the ‘Bums’ won this year at last. I had lunch this spring with them at Vero Beach. 400 players in uniform was quite a sight.”

From 1910-1914 Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics won four American League pennants and three World Series championships. Hall of Famers Frank “Home Run” Baker, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, and Charles “Chief” Bender all made major contributions during the dynastic run.

The Athletics of the era also boasted baseball’s famous$100,000 infield. Stuffy McInnis played first base with Collins at second, Baker at third, and Jack Barry at short.

McInnis played just 38 games in 1910. That year Mack and the Athletics captured their first World Series title. The next season McInnis took over first base duties. With that move, the infield blossomed.

From 1911 through 1914 the four Philadelphia infielders combined to average 24.3 WAR per season. In The New Bill James Historical Abstract the statistical guru tabs the 1914 Athletics infield as the best in baseball history.

Baker led the American League in homers every season from 1911 through 1914. His performance earned MVP consideration each of the four seasons, twice finishing in the top-5. In the heart of the Deadball Era Baker slashed .334/.394/.496 and averaged 113 runs batted in per season. During the four-year run he put up a 160 OPS+.

Though Baker played in 13 seasons – a low total by Cooperstown standards – he earned his plaque. His 7-year peak WAR was 46.8, well above the 43.1 of the average Hall of Fame third baseman. Baker’s 6.5 WAR/162 games played likewise outpaces the 5.1 figure of the average Cooperstown man at the hot corner.

In the collection is this government postcard from 1948 signed by Stuffy McInnis. Click here to read more about the Athletics first baseman. You might also enjoy a Facebook page created by Baker’s great-great grandson commemorating McInnis, Baker and the $100,000 infield.

Frank Baker was one of the game’s great run-producers during the Deadball Era. He led the American League in homers four straight years starting in 1911. In the 11-year period from 1909-1919 he finished in the top six in the league 9 times, and in the top three seven times.

During the same time frame Baker also finished in the top-eight among AL RBI men 8 times, leading the Junior Circuit in both 1912 and ’13. Despite the great production during the depressed offensive era, Baker’s counting numbers pale in comparison to the all-time greats. He finished his career with 96 home runs and 991 RBI.

Measured against his contemporaries, third baseman Baker is viewed as one of the best ever at his position. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955.

Since Baker’s retirement, many men have surpassed his home run and RBI totals. Shown here is a game-used lineup card from the game that Brewers great Cecil Cooper passed Baker on the RBI career list.

On August 26, 1985 manager George Bamberger penciled Cooper into the three-hole of the Milwaukee lineup. During the day’s doubleheader Cooper collected four hits and four runs batted in. With the four ribbies, Cooper also passed Hall of Famers Deacon White and Ernie Lombardi.