Arizona sentinel and Yuma weekly examiner., 1914-10-15
'HOME-RUN BAKER' ONCE
 CANNED FUR WEAK BATTING
THIS "PHENoM" PLAYED IN MARYLAND TEAM IN 1906 FOR DOLLARS AND BOARD; CHARLEY HERzoG aFoUND" HIS ASSISTED AND COACHED THE BIG SHOW; HE IS HEAVIEST

Once upon a time, Frank Baker
 of the Athletics, one of the greatest
 sluggers that the game ever has known, was canned because of weak
 hitting.
 It happened back in 1905 or 1906 Bakers work with an independent team attracted the attention of one ol the McGraw scouts. The scout sign ed him and Baker was turned over to the Baltimore club of the Eastern | League for seasoning. He lasted just short while, and was let out 'be ceause he's a punk fielder and he can't hit"
 Baker began his career as an out fielder, but played third base in 1907 with the Cambridge (Md) club. The man who discovered him was Chas. Herzog, now manager of the Cincin- natl Reds. Herzog signed Baker at , salary of $5 a week and board to play with Ridgley (Md) club. He played in that club in 1906, went to Cambridge in 1907, to Reading (PaD in the Tri-State League in 1908 and was signed up by Connie Mack for the 1909 season.
 Baker is regarded as clumsy field CT, but he seems to cover a great amount of ground just the same His throwing is strong and accurate and he's always calm and cool. Whatever defects there may be in his fielding are more than made up by his ter rife batting powers. Baker hits the ball farther and harder, on an aver age, than any man that ever broke into the big leagues.
 Bakers powerful arms and shoul- ders enable him to give a terrific swing. Baker, who is about six feet tall, puts his whole weight of 1SC pounds behind every swing, and when he connects the ball travels to the far corners of the field. It is rare,- that Baker hits to the infield.
 Baker has marvellous strength. He seems to be all bone and muscle. He swings a huge bat with the ease that an ordinary man would show in swinging a golf club. They tell O. Bakers great feats of sterngth back r1rh 1on farms, and where he spends his win ters.
 Baker, despite, the plaudits of fan dom. hurled at him ever since he came into the big league, is modest and unassuming. His voice is sel- dom heard on a ball field and seldom off of it. He has no bad habits. He never has smoked or drank and he is a home lover. Baker is never so happy as when he is back in his ,rappe, Md, home with his wife and little family.
 What I am in baseball I owe very iol SOly IO SldIICy ClEOS, uSCldl SS Baker. "He gave me a chance to learn baseball and he helped me thru my early career. He isn't much | older than I am, yet he always was in his attitude toward me.
 T must have been pretty poor player when I got that job with the | Ridgley team back in 1906, but Char | ley, wEo was manager, was patient with me. Instead of banning me for blunders, he spent much of his time in coaching me. When Charley went to the Cambridge team he took me along with him.
 'The next year Charley went to Reading, and he influenced the Read ing people to give me a trial at third in his place when he went into the | big league. Even after that Charley | plugged for me and his plugging if oally landed me in the big show"