Don Baylor was a professional baseball player who played for 19 seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on June 28, 1949, in Austin, Texas, and grew up playing baseball in his hometown. Baylor was a standout athlete in high school and was offered a scholarship to play football at Texas Southern University. However, he chose to pursue a career in baseball and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 1967 MLB draft.
Baylor made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 1970 and quickly established himself as a reliable hitter and outfielder. He played for the Orioles for six seasons and was a key member of the team that won the World Series in 1970. In 1976, Baylor was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the California Angels.
Baylor played for the Angels for six seasons and was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 1979. He was a consistent hitter and was known for his aggressive baserunning and solid defense. In 1982, Baylor signed with the New York Yankees and played for two seasons before being traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Baylor played for the Red Sox for three seasons and was a key member of the team that won the American League pennant in 1986. He hit a home run in Game 6 of the World Series, which helped the Red Sox force a Game 7. However, the Red Sox lost the series to the New York Mets in seven games.
After leaving the Red Sox, Baylor played for the Minnesota Twins, the Oakland Athletics, and the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired from baseball in 1988 with a career batting average of .260, 338 home runs, and 1,276 runs batted in.
After his playing career, Baylor became a coach and manager in the MLB. He served as the hitting coach for several teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Colorado Rockies. In 1993, he was named the manager of the Rockies and led the team to its first playoff appearance in 1995. Baylor also managed the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners before retiring from coaching in 2015.
Baylor was known for his toughness and leadership on and off the field. He was a six-time All-Star and won three Silver Slugger awards during his playing career. He was also a respected coach and manager who mentored many young players and helped them develop their skills.
Don Baylor passed away on August 7, 2017, at the age of 68. He will be remembered as one of the greatest players and coaches in the history of baseball.
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