2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s SINGLE BAT GAME USED PART XIII

 

                  "Now Batting #25 Don Baylor......." Don Baylor or known as his teammates Groove. Don played for the Baltimore Orioles,Oakland Athletics,California Angels,New York Yankees,Boston Red Sox,Minnesota Twins, then returning to the Athletics. After his playing career was over he was named in 1993 for the Expansion Colorado Rockies as their first Manager then he later managed the Chicago Cubs.               When Don was traded to the Athletics he was traded for a future teammate Reggie Jackson(Who's also a member of this set & was a Teammate of Don's in 1982 as well Bob Grich) Don was named MVP during the 1979 season leading the Angels to their first ever playoff appearance as well leading the American League in RBIs with 139 that went well when he hit .296 with 36 Home Runs.  Don however is best known for being hit by pitch a total of 267 times as well the first player to appear in the World Series 3 consecutive years with 3 different teams (Boston,Minnesota,Oakland his record was 1-2 winning only when he was with the Twins) later the feat was tied by Eric Hinske & Will Smith.  Don to me would be the 1970s equivalent to what David Ortiz was in the 2000s for the Red Sox cause mainly when Don played he was a DH so if you were to ask me does Don deserve to be in this set yes cause of he was man that would come through with clutch at bats plus he was an MVP for team that most critics said that the Royals would have won in 1979 but it was Don's Angels that took the American League West title that year unforunate they couldn't beat the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS. Plus Don showed leadership qualities when he played for the Angels & the other teams that he used when he was either a batting coach & it was process that made the Rockies eligible for the post season the 3rd season of their existence at the time. So does Don make your selection in this set let me know in the comments below on deck is Shortstop Dave Conception until then I am remind you that Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign Autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."