William Baker (baseball)
Encyclopedia
William Baker was the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies
of the National League
from through . In 1913, Baker purchased the club from Horace Fogel
after Fogel was banned from baseball. He was at the helm two years later when the Phillies played in the 1915 World Series
.
Baker was known for being extremely tight-fisted. For most of his tenure as owner, the Phillies had only one scout, and used a flock of sheep to trim the grass at Baker Bowl
, which was named for him. He was so tight-fisted that he traded star pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander
to the St. Louis Cardinals
in rather than increase his salary. Within a year, the Phillies had fallen to last place—the first of 15 straight years (and 29 out of 30) without a winning record.
He died in 1930 and was succeeded as Phillies owner by Gerald Nugent
.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from through . In 1913, Baker purchased the club from Horace Fogel
Horace Fogel
Horace Fogel was a Major League Baseball manager. In 1887, Horace was the manager for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. His record was 20-49. In he was the manager for the New York Giants with a record of 18-23....
after Fogel was banned from baseball. He was at the helm two years later when the Phillies played in the 1915 World Series
1915 World Series
In the 1915 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one.In their only World Series before , the Phillies won Game 1 before being swept the rest of the way. It was 65 years before the Phillies won their next Series game...
.
Baker was known for being extremely tight-fisted. For most of his tenure as owner, the Phillies had only one scout, and used a flock of sheep to trim the grass at Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
, which was named for him. He was so tight-fisted that he traded star pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in rather than increase his salary. Within a year, the Phillies had fallen to last place—the first of 15 straight years (and 29 out of 30) without a winning record.
He died in 1930 and was succeeded as Phillies owner by Gerald Nugent
Gerald Nugent
Gerald Nugent was the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team of the National League from through .A leather goods and shoe merchant, Nugent married longtime Phillies secretary Mae Mallen in 1925. Longtime Phillies owner William Baker died in 1930, leaving half of his estate to Mallen...
.