Don Baylor
The power hitter who led the majors in hit-by-pitches during his lone season in Oakland.
Don Baylor played for the Oakland Athletics in 1976, not from 1978–1982 as previously stated. Acquired in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles on April 2, 1976, Baylor spent a single season with the A's, posting a .247 batting average and .368 slugging percentage with 15 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He led the major leagues in hit-by-pitches with 20 that year. His time in Oakland was brief, influenced by his imminent free agency after the season.
- Role
- Designated Hitter / First Baseman
- Years with A's
- 1976
- Major Honors
- Led major leagues in hit-by-pitches (1976)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Baylor's 1976 season with the Athletics was marked by his aggressive approach at the plate, crowding the plate and getting hit by pitches a major-league-leading 20 times. He was part of a transaction that sent him, Mike Torrez, and Paul Mitchell from the Orioles to Oakland for Reggie Jackson, Ken Holtzman, and minor-league pitcher Bill Van Bommel. Though his batting average dipped to .247, his 15 home runs and 68 RBIs provided some pop in the lineup. Baylor's tenure was short, as he signed with the California Angels as a free agent the following year.
In Their Own Story
The trade that brought Don Baylor to Oakland was a blockbuster, swapping him and two others for Reggie Jackson. In his only season with the A's, Baylor played 157 games, often standing uncomfortably close to the plate—a tactic that earned him a league-leading 20 hit-by-pitches. His 15 home runs and 68 RBIs were solid, but the team finished second in the AL West. After the season, Baylor moved on, signing with the Angels and beginning a new chapter.
Reader's Guide
Don Baylor played for the Oakland Athletics in 1976 after being traded from the Baltimore Orioles on April 2. In 157 games, he batted .247 with a .368 slugging percentage, hitting 15 home runs and driving in 68 runs. He led the major leagues in hit-by-pitches with 20. The trade was influenced by his impending free agency, and he left Oakland after the season to sign with the California Angels. Baylor's time with the A's was brief but notable for his aggressive plate presence and power hitting.
Did You Know?
- Baylor was traded from the Orioles to the Athletics on April 2, 1976, in a deal that sent Reggie Jackson to Baltimore.
- In 1976, Baylor led the major leagues in hit-by-pitches with 20.
- Baylor's lone season with the A's saw him post a .247 batting average with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs.
- After the 1976 season, Baylor signed with the California Angels as a free agent.
- Baylor is one of three players in history to reach the World Series in consecutive years with three different teams (1986 Red Sox, 1987 Twins, 1988 A's).