Phil Baker

Born: 9/19/1856 in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Died: 6/4/1940 in Washington, DC, USA

MLB Debut: 1883-05-01 | Final Game: 1886-09-02

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 152 lbs

Full name: Philip Baker

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Biography

Phil Baker, born in 1856, was a notable position player in the early days of professional baseball, whose career spanned from 1883 to 1886. During his time in Major League Baseball, Baker played in 195 games, where he distinguished himself as a reliable hitter with a career batting average of .259. He collected a total of 212 hits, including 3 home runs and 34 runs batted in, contributing to the offensive dynamics of his teams. Baker also showcased his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 16 stolen bases, a significant feat in an era when base running was an essential aspect of the game. Baker's playing career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the shift from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded styles that began to emerge in the late 19th century. While he may not have reached the pinnacle of stardom, his contributions helped pave the way for future generations of players, embodying the spirit of the sport during its formative years. Baker’s legacy is a testament to the early evolution of baseball, reflecting both the challenges and the excitement of a rapidly changing game.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
195	817	134	212	20	11	3	34	16	39	32	0.259	0.293	0.322	0.615	-121.3

Career AVG .259 vs. league average .248 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .293 vs. league average .288 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .322 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.615 vs. league average 0.621 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1883	BL2	AA	28	121	22	33	2	1	1	0	0	8	0	0.273	.257 (+6%)	.285 (+11%)	.345 (-4%)	.631 (+3%)	91.7
1884	WSU	UA	86	371	75	107	12	5	1	0	0	11	0	0.288	.243 (+19%)	.278 (+11%)	.327 (+9%)	.606 (+10%)	545.4
1886	WS8	NL	81	325	37	72	6	5	1	34	16	20	32	0.222	.246 (-10%)	.302 (-12%)	.331 (-16%)	.634 (-14%)	-758.5

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	PO	A	E	DP
1B	95	876	25	35	42
C	50	256	40	29	6
OF	67	98	4	12	0
SS	1	0	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	PO	A	E	DP
1883	BL2	C	19	93	13	14	2
1883	BL2	OF	14	20	1	7	0
1883	BL2	SS	1	0	0	0	0
1884	WSU	1B	39	309	12	15	13
1884	WSU	C	27	159	25	14	3
1884	WSU	OF	32	47	3	5	0
1886	WS8	1B	56	567	13	20	29
1886	WS8	C	4	4	2	1	1
1886	WS8	OF	21	31	0	0	0