Don Baylor, who played in 2,292 major-league games and wore 14 different uniforms as a player, coach and manager, . Baylor was the first manager in Rockies history, guiding the team from 1993-98.
A look back at an extraordinary baseball life:
David Zalubowski, AP Photo
Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor, front right, waves to the crowd as the Rockies take their traditional walk around Denver's Coors Field to mark the end of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Baylor, who managed the National League expansion team from its inception in 1993, was fired at the close of the 1998 season and replaced by Jim Leyland. Broadcast and newspaper members of The Associated Press selected the story of Baylor's dismissal as one of the top sports stories of 1998 in Colorado.
Getty Historical Collection
Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor leads the team around the field after the final 1993 home game.
Brian Bahr, Allsport
Left fielder Dante Bichette of the Colorado Rockies high fives manager Don Baylor during a game against the New York Mets at Coors Field in Denver, May 6, 1997. The Rockies won the game 12-11.
Todd Warshaw, Getty Images
Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout during the Rockies 8-4 win over the San Diego Padres on June 19, 1997, at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, Calif.
Stephen Dunn, Allsport
Coach Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies Surveys the field before a 3-2 loss against the San Diego Padres at the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, Calif. June 22, 1995.
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Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies looks on during the their interleague game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., June 14, 1997. The Rockies won 7-1.
Todd Warshaw, Allsport
Manager Don Baylor #25 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during a game against the San Diego Padres at the Qualcomm Park in San Diego, Calif., July 5, 1998. The Padres defeated the Rockies 7-2.
Brian Bahr, Getty Images
Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies stands on the field during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 5, 1998 at the Maryvale Baseball Park in Maryvale, Ariz. The Rockies defeated the Brewers 2-1.
Brian Bahr, Allsport
Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies talks with manager Buck Showalter of the Arizona Diamondbacks March 10, 1998, during a spring training game at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won the game 6-5.
Brian Bahr, Allsport
Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies stands on the field during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at the Maryvale Baseball Park in Maryvale, Ariz. March 5, 1998. The Rockies defeated the Brewers 2-1.
Brian Bahr, Allsport
Manager Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies (right) stands with his team prior to a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field in Denver on April 7, 1998. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 12-10.
Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post
Rockies manager Don Baylor walks off the field after the come-from-behind win against the Giants in the last game of the year for the 1998 team.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Clint Hurdle, left, a trainer, and Rockies coach Don Baylor take a look at Mike Lansing after contact with the Cubs, Manny Alexander, or contact with the ground at second base in the 9th inning Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post
Colorado Rockies workout at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Hitting coach Don Baylor talks with player Ian Stewart as the players warm up.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Coach Don Baylor #25 and manager Jim Tracy #4 of the Colorado Rockies watch the action against the San Diego Padres during MLB action at Coors Field on May 31, 2009 in Denver. The Padres defeated the Rockies 5-2.
Matthew Stockman, Getty Images
Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies poses during photo day at the Rockies spring training complex on Feb. 22, 2009 in Tuscon, Arizona.
Karl Gehring, The Denver Post
Colorado Rockies hitting instructor Don Baylor, left, talked with team president Keli S. McGregor prior to batting practice Friday afternoon. The Colorado Rockies hosted the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field Friday night, July 24, 2009.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Coach Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies looks on during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 8, 2009 in Phoenix, Ariz. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 9-2.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Batting coach Don Baylor of the Colorado Rockies looks out from the dugout during their game against the San Francisco Giants during their game on July 25, 2009 at Coors Field in Denver.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy, right, holds the arm of batting coach Don Baylor in the first day of full squad practice of 2010 spring training in Tucson, Ariz.
Karl Gehring, The Denver Post
Rockies hitting coach Don Baylor watched from the dugout as the Colorado Rockies hosted the San Diego Padres at Coors Field Friday night, July 9, 2010.
David Zalubowski, AP Photo
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Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor, front right, waves to the crowd as the Rockies take their traditional walk around Denver's Coors Field to mark the end of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Baylor, who managed the National League expansion team from its inception in 1993, was fired at the close of the 1998 season and replaced by Jim Leyland. Broadcast and newspaper members of The Associated Press selected the story of Baylor's dismissal as one of the top sports stories of 1998 in Colorado.
Born June 28, 1949, in Austin, Texas, Baylor was a second-round pick by the in 1967 out of S.F. Austin High School. He chose baseball over a chance to be the first black football player at Texas. Two years later, the Longhorns became the last all-white team to win a national championship.
Made his big-league debut with the Orioles on Sept. 18, 1970.
Baylor played for the Orioles, Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins and A’s in a 19-year career. He was mostly a designated hitter but also played outfield and first base.
Baylor won three Silver Slugger Awards and hit 338 career home runs.
His best season came in 1979 when he made the all-star team for the only time and was named American League MVP, leading the majors with 139 RBIs and 120 runs scored.
Batted .385 with a home run for Minnesota in its World Series victory over St. Louis in 1987.
Played in 38 postseason games, batting .273 with four home runs and 21 RBIs.
Hit .260 with 338 home runs and 1,276 RBIs in his career.
Was hit by 267 pitches in his career, an MLB record when he retired.
Played his last game on Oct. 1, 1988 as a member of the Oakland A’s.
Named the first manager in Rockies franchise history in 1993.
Led the Rockies for six seasons, compiling at 440-469 record.
Named National League manager of the year for leading the Rockies to the playoffs in 1995, the fastest an expansion franchise ever qualified for the postseason.
Managed the Cubs beginning in 2000 before he was fired in the middle of the 2002 season.
Returned to Colorado as a hitting coach in 2009. He also served as a hitting coach for the Cardinals, Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks and Angels.
Baylor died in his hometown of Austin on Monday after a 14-year battle with multiple myeloma.
