Los Angeles Angels: Don Baylor passes away at 68

Former Los Angeles Angels great Don Baylor passed away at the age of 68 succumbing to multiple myeloma after a lengthy battle with the disease.

Orange County fans will remember Don Baylor as one of the Los Angeles Angels‘ first superstars, as his six years with club coincided with the Angels’ first forays into postseason baseball.

A native of Austin, Texas the man affectionately named “Groove” came to Angels from the Oakland Athletics as a free agent in 1977. At 6′ 1″ and 190 lbs Baylor used his size to crowd over the plate leading the league in hit by pitches eight times, eventually becoming the all-time career leader.

As an outfielder for the Angels Baylor would slug 141 home runs and drive in 523 runs both totals remain among the top 15 of all Angels batters. From 1977 to 1982 Baylor also served as team captain.

Baylor’s best season with the Angels was in 1979 when he hit 39 home runs and drove in a Angels single season record 139 runs, Baylor’s RBI total led the American League as well as his 120 runs scored. Baylor was named to All-Star game that year for the only time in his career.

Angels players express respect and affection for Don Baylor, who died Monday at 68 https://t.co/8tXF64PCAk pic.twitter.com/XVwTnrdISI
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 8, 2017

Thanks to his slugging Baylor was able to lead the Los Angeles Angels to their first American League West Division pennant, facing the Baltimore Orioles in what was then a best of five ALCS. Baylor hit a home run in the only Angels win of the series in game three. The Angels would lose game four ending their season.

For his efforts in 1979 Baylor was named the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) becoming the first member of the Angels club to win the award. It would be 25 years before another Angels player was named MVP; Vladimir Guerrero being the next in 2004.

Baylor would primarily become a designated hitter (DH) towards the end of his Angels career, helping them win another division title in 1982. The Angels would again lose in the ALCS this time to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Angels missed out on a chance to win the pennant losing three straight games when one win would have meant a World Series trip. For his part, Baylor drove in 10 runs still an Angels ALCS record.

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Baylor would leave the team after the 1982 season becoming a DH for hire, between 1986 to 1988 Baylor played in the World Series with three separate American League teams winning the World Series in 1987 with the Minnesota Twins. Ironically in 1986 with the Boston Red Sox, Baylor helped crush Angels fans spirits, spearheading a comeback from 3 games to 1 deficit in the ALCS.

Facing elimination in game five down 5-2 in the top of the ninth with one out, Baylor started the Red Sox comeback by hitting a two run home run closing the gap to just one run. The Red Sox would make the comeback complete winning the game in extra innings on a go ahead run by Baylor. The Red Sox would win the series in seven games.

Baylor would become a manager and hitting coach after his playing career was done winning the 1995 National League Manager of the Year while with the Colorado Rockies. His last stint as a batting coach was back with the Angels for the 2014 and 2015 seasons helping them win the 2014 AL West Division Title. Baylor was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 1990.

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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Don Baylor, as well as the entire Los Angeles Angels community.

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