Red Baldwin

Earl Philips "Red" Baldwin (September 1, 1894 – January 1, 1956) was a professional baseball catcher who spent 15 seasons in the minor leagues. Baldwin's entire career playing for team on the West Coast of the United States, mostly in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). His career began in the Northwestern League in 1916. Baldwin broke into the PCL in 1917 after being traded to the Portland Beavers. His baseball career took a hiatus during the 1918 season during his service in the 91st Division of the United States Army during World War I. He returned to baseball in 1919 and played in the PCL for the next 11 seasons. During that time he played for the San Francisco Seals (1919, 1931), the Seattle Indians (1920, 1924–26), the Los Angeles Angels (1921–23) and the Mission Bells/Reds (1927–30).

Red Baldwin
Catcher
Born: (1894-09-01)September 1, 1894
Oakland, California
Died: January 1, 1956(1956-01-01) (aged 61)
Alameda, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Professional debut
Northwestern League: 1916, for the Tacoma Tigers
Pacific Coast League: 1917, for the Portland Beavers
Last appearance
1931, for the San Francisco Seals
Career statistics
Batting average.259
Hits996
At-bats3845
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Northwestern League and Portland Beavers (1916–17)

Under the recommendation of former player Jim Byrnes the Vancouver Beavers of the Northwestern League (NWL) invited Baldwin to try out for the club but was not offered a contract.[1] Instead Baldwin signed with the Tacoma Tigers. He finished the season with a .242 batting average with 39 hits in 161 at bats.[2]

Before start of the 1917 season, Baldwin negotiated his way out of his contract with Tacoma. After he became a free agent, the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League offered him a contact.[3] However, Baldwin signed with the NWL Spokane Indians. In early June Baldwin was traded to the Portland Beavers in exchange for Bill Stumpf and Gus Helfrich.[4] Baldwin's batting average with Spokane was .302 with two home runs.[2] Baldwin arrived in Portland on June 10.[5] Roscoe Fawcett, the sports editor of The Oregonian, wrote on June 24 that, "'Red' Baldwin behind the bat doesn't seem to be able to hit a lick. He is a nifty receiver, but helpless on offense".[6] With Portland that season, Baldwin batted .219 with five doubles and two triples.[2]

Military service and semi-pro baseball (1917–18)

After the 1917 season Baldwin signed with a winter league club based out of San Francisco, California named "Maxwell".[7] He also played for a semi-professional team named the Oakland Native Sons.[8] In October 1917 Baldwin was drafted to serve in World War I as a member of the United States Armed Forces. Baldwin did not claim exemptions to his draft.[9] In November, Baldwin was informed to report to Camp Lewis near Tacoma, Washington.[10][11] He wrote The Oregonian in December and said he was not sure where he would be deployed, but thought it would likely be France or Italy.[12] As a member of the 91st Division, Baldwin served in France during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from 1917 to 1918.[12][13]

I thought I would drop you a line to give you an idea of this life before we leave [Camp Lewis]. We are all ready to go some place, but where I don't know.This life sure keeps me in shape. [...] There is just one thing that is tough, and that is getting up on 5:45 in the morning. I don't see why they should get up so early, but I guess Uncle [Sam] knows his business."

— Red Baldwin, The Oregonian (December 13, 1917)[12]

Following the 1918 season, the New York Yankees selected Baldwin in the rule 5 draft, but he was unable to report to the team due to his service in World War I.[14] The Portland Beavers's owner Judge McCredie claimed the Yankees failed to pay the arranged draft price for Baldwin, who was still under contract with the Beavers while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The case was reviewed by the National Commission and eventually the Yankees were allowed to sign Baldwin.[13]

Pacific Coast League journeyman (1919–31)

After returning home from service in World War I, Baldwin reported to the New York Yankees spring training camp at the start of the 1919 season.[15][16] However, he was cut from the roster before the start of the regular season and signed with the San Francisco Seals of the PCL. He played 82 games for the Seals and finished with a .217 batting average with 11 doubles, one triple and two home runs.

Before the 1920 season Baldwin was negotiating to re-sign with the San Francisco Seals, but they did not reach an agreement.[17] The Seattle Indians offered Baldwin $500 a month, which he accepted.[18] On the season, Baldwin appeared in 108 games and batted .240 with 12 doubles and two triples.[2] Baldwin requested another $500 a month contract from the Seattle Indians, which they declined instead offering him $400 a month.[19] He eventually signed with Seattle for an undisclosed amount.

Baldwin was traded to the Los Angeles Angels before the start of the 1921 season in exchange for Curly Brown.[20] Baldwin was the team's first string catcher that season.[21] He played 108 games that season and batted .266 with 18 doubles, six triples and one home run. In his second season with the Angels, Baldwin appeared in 91 games and batted in .293 with 90 hits, 18 doubles and two home runs. Baldwin played his final season with Los Angeles in 1923. He appeared in 101 games with 32 doubles and two home runs.[2]

Following the 1923 season Los Angeles sold Baldwin to the Seattle Indians.[22] During the 1924 season, he batted .282 with 31 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs. His double and home run totals were a career high. In 1925 Baldwin batted .269 with 16 doubles, one triple and six home runs. Baldwin's batting statistics for 1926 are not available.[2]

The Seattle Indians sold Baldwin to the Mission Bells in exchange for $3,000.[23] In his first season for Mission, Baldwin did not make a plate appearance. He played in 17 games on defense. In 1928 he appeared in 118 games and finished with a .277 with 18 double, one triple and three home runs. His final season with Mission was in 1930. That year he batted .247 with 10 double, one triple and three home runs.[2]

Baldwin signed with the San Francisco Seals in 1931. His contract stipulated that Baldwin would be paid for the entire season, regardless how much he played.[24] He played 65 games with eight doubles and two triples in what would be his final season in professional baseball.[2]

Relatives

Baldwin's brother-in-law was William Lawrence Plummer, who played with Baldwin from 1924 to 1925 on the Seattle Indians. His nephew, Bill Plummer, was a major league catcher from 1968 to 1978, and pro baseball manager and coach from 1980 to 2017 with the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations as well as the independent Chico Heat and Yuma Bullfrogs.

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References
  1. "Hill's baseball dope". The Seattle Star. 10 April 1916. p. 7.
  2. "Red Baldwin Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference,com. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  3. "Indians high priced; Owner Dunn pays $100,000 to booster Cleveland club; Salaries $90,000 for 1917". The Oregonian. 10 April 1917. p. 8.
  4. "Giants win fourth new man for Reds". The Seattle Star. 8 June 1917. p. 14.
  5. "Browns negotiate for Ken Williams; Crack outfielder to go to St. Louis in fall in exchangeat for players and cash". The Oregonian. 10 June 1917. p. 23.
  6. Fawcett, Roscoe (24 July 1917). "Beavers showing is league feature; This weeks series against Los Angeles is expected to give real acid test". The Oregonian. p. 12.
  7. "Angels close on heels of Seals". The Oregonian. 17 October 1917. p. 17.
  8. "Beavers play in south; Midwinter league affords them jobs". The Oregonian. 8 November 1917. p. 17.
  9. "Farmer may be sold to Detroit; Deal now pends whereby Tigers will gain services of Beavers outfielder". The Oregonian. 31 October 1917. p. 14.
  10. "Introduction Red Baldwin, peppery Beavers backstop, who will try his hand at throwing out the Kaiser's baserunners". The Oregonian. 15 November 1917. p. 17.
  11. "Bee start wounded; Sheeley reports to Camp Lewis and is no slaker". The Oregonian. 15 November 1917. p. 17.
  12. "Red Baldwin ready: Beaver catcher expects to got to go to France in near future". The Oregonian. 13 December 1917. p. 16.
  13. "McCredie objects to unfair tactics; Portland magnate asks about money for Cliff Lee; Baldwin case reviewed". The Oregonian. 22 December 1918. p. 1.
  14. "Lee learns of draft; Former Beaver not surprised at Pittsburgh move". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 23 September 1918. p. 8.
  15. Richardson, James J. (27 February 1919). "7 Detroit players coming to Portland". The Oregonian. p. 14.
  16. Grayson, Harry M. (14 April 1919). "April 23 looms big in baseball circle". The Oregonian. p. 11.
  17. "Rain is lucky for Cubs; Seattle manager says it saved them three defeats". The Oregonian. 23 March 1920. p. 12.
  18. L. H., Gregory (17 February 1921). "Flinger with thirsty name signed, Beaver roster 39" (The Oregonian). Portland, Oregon. p. 12.
  19. L. H., Gregory (22 February 1922). "Seattle in position to be hard-boiled with Baldwin". The Oregonian. p. 12.
  20. "Angels complete two deals; Brown traded for Baldwin and McDonald sold for cash". The Oregonian. 9 March 1921. p. 12.
  21. Gregory, L. H. (26 March 1921). "Killefer regarded as pennant-lifter; Angels expect to repeat under Red's leadership". The Oregonian (13). p. 3.
  22. Gregory, L. H. (14 December 1923). "Coast league takes step to prevent czarist rule". The Oregonian. p. 19.
  23. Gregory, L. H. (18 September 1927). "Gregory's sports gossip". The Oregonian. p. 65.
  24. Gregory, L. H. (10 March 1931). "Gregory's sports gossip". The Oregonian. p. 17.
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