"Baylor capped off a productive season by driving in 10 runs during the five-game playoff series against Milwaukee; he had five RBI in the opening game and then added four more on a grand slam in the fourth game. He once again was strictly a designated hitter and set an AL record for game-winning RBI with 21 in his option season.
Born in Austin, Texas, Baylor was named AL MVP in 1979. He fractured his left wrist and dislocated the middle toe on his left foot the following year, which sidelined him for all but 90 games. The Angels didn't meet his money demands, so he signed with the Yanks (five years, $4.17 million) as a repeat free agent."
-Ken Nigro, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1983 Edition
"When the Yankees signed Don Baylor as a free agent last winter, they signed more than a good designated hitter. The muscular 210-pound Texas native always gives 100 per cent on the field and is a positive influence on a club off the field. Baylor is one of the best in the game at breaking up a double play and he slides as hard into second base as anyone. He also possesses a trait which endears him to his manager but not to opposing pitchers- he simply will drop the bat and run to first base when hit by a pitched ball, rarely showing any signs of pain.
Yankee fans will gladly settle for a repeat of the 1979 season when 'Groove' was named the American League's Most Valuable Player after hitting 36 homers, driving in 139 runs and batting .296 for the California Angels. Baylor was signed by Baltimore in 1967 and enjoyed outstanding seasons in the minors before coming up to stay in 1971. But he was traded to Oakland in 1976 when Baltimore went after a left-handed hitter named Reggie Jackson. Baylor played out his option at the end of that season and signed a six-year contract with California. When free agency came again at the end of last season, Baylor decided he was ready for the biggest test of all- playing with the New York Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Baylor helped lead California to the AL West Division title and led the AL with 21 game-winning RBI. He appeared in 155 games as a designated hitter, batting .263 and finishing third in the league among DHs with 24 homers, behind only Andre Thornton (31) and Hal McRae (27), and fourth with 93 RBI, behind McRae (133), Thornton (109) and Greg Luzinski (101).
Don enjoyed his best season in 1979 when he was named the American League's MVP, leading the league with 139 RBI, 120 runs and 162 games while batting a career high of .296 with career highs of 186 hits, 33 doubles and 36 homers. During his six seasons with California, he hit 141 home runs, becoming the Angels all-time career home run leader, and he ranks among the Angels top 10 in 10 different offensive categories. Following his 1979 MVP season he played in only 90 games in 1980, being slowed by a fractured left wrist and a dislocated middle toe on his left foot.
Baylor was originally signed by the Orioles in 1967, and in 1970 was named minor league Player of the Year. After four full seasons with the Orioles he was traded to Oakland as part of a trade which included Reggie Jackson. Don played out his option with the A's in 1976, signing a six-year contract with the Angels that fall. He served as the Angels player representative for the past three seasons.
A native of Austin, Texas, Don attended Miami Dade Junior College and Blinn Junior College (Brenham, TX). For the last five seasons he has been instrumental in raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
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