Don Baylor, ex-baseball star, dead at 68
(FOX NEWS) - Baseball great Don Baylor, the 1979 American League Most Valuable Player, who played for six teams and later managed two, died Monday morning after a long battle with multiple myeloma, The Austin-American Statesman reported. He was 68.
Baylor, a Texas native, died at 4:25 a.m. at St. David's South Hospital in Austin, his son told the Statesman.
Baylor hit .260 with a .342 on-base percentage and 338 home runs during a 19-year career with the Orioles, Athletics, Angels, Yankees, Red Sox and Twins.
Baylor later managed the Colorado Rockies, from the franchise's inaugural season, in 1993, until 1998. He also served as the Chicago Cubs' manager from 2000-2002. Baylor posted a 627-689 record in his nine years at the helm.
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Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. issued this statement regarding the deaths of longtime Major League players Don Baylor, who was 68, and Darren Daulton, who was 55:
"Today is a sad day for our game as we lost two men who built distinguished careers in the National Pastime, Don Baylor and Darren Daulton.
"Don used power and speed to earn American League MVP honors with the Angels in 1979 and contributed to three straight pennant winners in a great 19-year Major League career. He then became the first manager in Rockies history, guiding them to their first Postseason in just their third year of play. Throughout stints with 14 different Major League teams as a player, coach or manager, Don's reputation as a gentleman always preceded him.
"Darren starred for one of the most memorable Phillies' teams ever in 1993. With leadership and toughness, he personified the city that he represented for nearly his entire 14-year Major League career. In his final game, Darren batted cleanup for the Marlins' team that won the 1997 World Series Championship.
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and fans of these two memorable individuals."