Paul Bako
Paul Bako | ||
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Runs batted in | 195 | |
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Gabor Paul Bako II (/ˈbɑːkoʊ/; born June 20, 1972) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He is an example of a baseball "journeyman",[1][2][3][4] having played for 11 different teams during his 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career. During his playing days, he was listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg).[5]
Bako attended high school and college in his home state of
Baseball career
High school and college
In 1990, Bako was
Minor leagues
Bako began his professional career with the
Bako moved on to the high-A
Bako's 1995 performance earned him a promotion to the
Bako: Are you really trying out here?
Tomko: What do you mean?
Bako: Because your stuff is horrible today and if you don't try a little harder, you're not going to make it out of this inning.[23]
On November 11, 1997, Bako was traded by the Reds to the Detroit Tigers in an offseason deal that included Donne Wall.[8] After playing 13 games with the Tigers AAA-level affiliate—the Toledo Mud Hens—in 1998,[16] Bako was called up to the Major League club.
Major leagues
1998–2000
Bako made his major league debut with the
Because of his last name, Bako gained temporary distinction as one of the Astros' "Killer B's", which included first baseman Jeff Bagwell and second baseman Craig Biggio, two formidable veteran players who helped established the Astros as perennial playoff contenders in the 1990s and 2000s. In fact, journalist Dayn Perry jocosely noted the 1999 Astros, "in pursuit of arcane history, used eight players whose last names began with 'B.'"[27] The eight included Bagwell, Bako, Glen Barker, Derek Bell, Sean Bergman, Lance Berkman, Biggio, and Tim Bogar.[28]
Bako appeared in 73 games for the 1999 Astros; he got at least one hit in his first six games with Houston after beginning the season in the minor leagues, highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance on April 30, the anniversary of his debut.[29] He added another 4-for-4 game to his résumé on July 29 against the Colorado Rockies.[29] Bako hit .256 with two home runs, 17 RBIs, and 16 runs scored in the 1999 season;[30] he was part of Houston's roster for the 1999 National League Division Series, but did not play.[31] After one game for the Astros in 2000, Houston traded Bako to the Florida Marlins.[8] He played his first game for Florida on April 13, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.[32] Bako played for the Marlins until July 20,[33] batting .242 with 14 RBIs.[30] He was waived on July 21 and claimed by the Atlanta Braves, one of the Marlins' division rivals. He batted .190 with the Braves and played in his first career game at first base in the last two months of the 2000 season.[8][33]
2001–2004
Bako remained with the Braves for the 2001 season, where he was the backup to
In a trade of catchers, the Braves acquired
After the 2002 season, Milwaukee traded Bako to the Chicago Cubs, where he spent two complete seasons; 2003 and 2004 were the only consecutive seasons that Bako spent with the same organization.[8] Over his two years, he backed up Damian Miller and Michael Barrett, and was reunited with former Braves teammate Greg Maddux in 2004. In his first Chicago season, Bako batted .229 with 22 walks and 13 doubles;[41] a 4-for-5 performance in his second game of the year was his best of the season.[42] In that game, he batted three times against the Reds with the bases loaded,[43] notching a triple, two singles and six RBIs.[44] Bako batted only .203 for the Cubs in 2004. He hit one home run and eight doubles, displaying his defense with a .989 fielding percentage.[45] His top performance that year was in the second game of a doubleheader against Florida, when he went 3-for-3 and batted in two runs.[46]
2005–2009
As a free agent, Bako signed with the
On February 1, 2008, Bako signed a
As the 2009 season wore on, regular catcher Carlos Ruiz spent some time recuperating from an injury, allowing Bako expanded playing time near the end of the season. From September 18 to 29, Bako played in all but one of the team's games; his best stretch was from September 24 through September 27, when he went 6-for-13 with two RBI over three games.[59] He finished the year with a .224 batting average.[8] After winning the National League East for the third consecutive year, the Phillies faced the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, and the New York Yankees in the World Series; Bako did not appear in any games during the postseason.[60][61][62] After the 2009 season, Bako filed for free agency;[63] considered retirement, according to teammate Scott Eyre;[64] and did not play during the 2010 season.[8]
After baseball
As of 2011[update], Bako was an equipment representative for the
Personal life
Bako lived in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, during the offseason, with his wife, Laurie, and two children.[6]
References
- ^ Sullivan, Paul (March 27, 2009). "Deciding on backup catcher—Paul Bako or Koyie Hill—no easy task for Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ Gurian-Peck, David (July 11, 2009). "Bako enjoying opportunity with Phillies". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ "Phillies Sign Veteran Catcher Bako". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ Grumling, Darryl (May 31, 2009). "Milner supplies Reading with ammo on military night". Pottstown Mercury. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
- ^ "Amateur Draft: 6th Round of the 1990 June Draft". Sports Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Paul Bako Statistics and History". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Five UL players named to Sun Belt 30-year baseball squad". Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Network. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Final 1991 Division I Baseball" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 6. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ "Final 1992 Division I Baseball Statistics" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 4. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Amateur Draft: 5th Round of the 1993 June Draft". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "1993 Billings Mustangs – Minor Leagues". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights (1993)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako Minor League Statistics & History". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "1994 Winston-Salem Spirits Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "1995 Winston-Salem Warthogs Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights (1995)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights (1996)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ a b "1996 Chattanooga Lookouts Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "1997 Indianapolis Indians Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-618-71053-1.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako 1998 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference LLC. May 1, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference LLC. May 15, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ Perry, Dayn (December 23, 2012). "Remembering the 'Killer B's'". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- ^ "1999 Houston Astros: Batting, pitching, & fielding statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako 1999 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Paul Bako". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights (1999)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ "Florida Marlins at Milwaukee Brewers Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference LLC. April 13, 2000. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako 2000 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Paul Bako: Biography and Career Highlights (2001)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2001 Atlanta Braves Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako 2001 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "National League Division Series (Game 3), Astros at Braves". Sports Reference LLC. October 12, 2001. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2002 Milwaukee Brewers Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Milwaukee Brewers at Minnesota Twins Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference LLC. June 29, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Biography and Career Highlights (2002)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2003 Chicago Cubs Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako 2003 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Biography and Career Highlights (2003)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference LLC. April 5, 2003. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2004 Chicago Cubs Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs 11, Florida Marlins 2 (2)". Retrosheet, Inc. September 10, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2005 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ Alexander, Jim (June 22, 2005). "Notebook: A lot to miss about Gagne". The Press-Enterprise. Archived from the original on June 23, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
- ^ "2006 Kansas City Royals Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "2007 Baltimore Orioles Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ Levine, Barry (January 30, 2009). "Cubs sign Bako". ESPN. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ Muskat, Carrie (March 30, 2009). "Hill, Hoffpauir in; Bako, Stanton out". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ Lauber, Scott (July 9, 2009). "Breaking News: Lidge to DL". Delaware Online. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ a b Sielski, Mike (July 12, 2009). "Bako gets chance to write his own story". Bucks County Courier-Times. Retrieved November 4, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score and Play-by-Play". Sports Reference LLC. July 11, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
- ^ "2009 Philadelphia Phillies Schedule, Box Score, and Splits". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
- ^ a b Salisbury, Jim (August 24, 2009). "Howard and Lee lead way for Phils". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
- ^ Murphy, David (August 20, 2009). "Phillies' Manuel says Lee-Bako pairing isn't permanent". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako 2009 Batting Gamelogs". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
- ^ "2009 League Division Series (3–1): Philadelphia Phillies (93–69) over Colorado Rockies (92–70)". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ "2009 League Championship Series (4–1): Philadelphia Phillies (93–69) over Los Angeles Dodgers (95–67)". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ "2009 World Series (4–2): New York Yankees (103–59) over Philadelphia Phillies (93–69)". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ "2009-10 Major League Baseball free agents". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Bako, C, free agent". KFFL. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ Murphy, David (February 22, 2011). "Chase Utley vs. Cliff Lee". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ "A few observations from camp". Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet