John Franklin “Home Run” Baker (D. 1963) Baker played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1922, for the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Yankees. Baker has been called the "original home run king of the majors".
Baker was a member of the Athletics' $100,000 infield. He helped the Athletics win the 1910, 1911, and 1913 World Series. After a contract dispute, the Athletics sold Baker to the Yankees, where he and Wally Pipp helped the Yankees' offense. Baker appeared with the Yankees in the 1921 and 1922 World Series, though the Yankees lost both series, before retiring. He was elected to the Baseball HOF in 1955.
This particular photo measuring 6.5” x 4.25” was taken during spring training in 1916 when George Grantham Bain shot the Yankees after he was acquired from the Athletics for $25,000. This photo was featured in papers across the country, as this was a record setting price for the purchase of a baseball player. Bain’s works are featured in the Library of Congress under his own collection.
To own one of his original masterpieces is an honor and privilege. Derives from the John Blattner collection.