Don Baylor might be more recognized as a Coach and Manager, but this was one hell of a baseball player who had a lot of pop in his bat.

Baylor began his career with Baltimore in 1970, and after being traded to Oakland in 1975, he signed his first Free Agent deal a year later with the California Angels.  After tying his previous high 25 Home Runs in his first year in California, he broke it with 34 in 1978 and 36 in 1979.  That campaign was Baylor's best, seeing him lead the American League in Runs Scored (120), RBIs (139), and winning the American League MVP.  This would also be Baylor's lone All-Star year.

Baylor was injured for most of 1980 but was healthy the two years after, again going yard often and accumulating 141 Home Runs for the Halos before signing with the New York Yankees as a Free Agent after the 1982 Season.

Despite the MVP and strong power numbers, Baylor’s rank is negatively affected by his poor defense.  Had he been even average in the field, he would likely be ten to fifteen spots higher.  Baylor was nevertheless the Angels' first MVP, and in 1990, he was the third man inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.

It was a very sad day in the world of Baseball as former American League MVP, Don Baylor, passed away to cancer at the age of 68. 

Baylor would begin his career in Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles but it was after he signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels where his star rose.  In 1979, Baylor would go to his first and only All Star Game and won the MVP.  Baylor would blast 36 Home Runs that year and would lead the AL in Runs Scored and Runs Batted In. 

The playing career of Don Baylor would see the slugger accumulate 338 Home Runs with 2,135 Hits and also saw him win a World Series late in his career as a Minnesota Twin in 1987. 

For many, Don Baylor is more well known for his run as a MLB Manager.  In that capacity he would win the National League Manager of the Year when he helmed the Colorado Rockies to a 77 and 67 season in the franchise’s third year of existence.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Don Baylor at this time.