Rockies 1st Manager Don Baylor Dies After Cancer Battle
DENVER (CBS4)- The Colorado Rockies first manager, Don Baylor, has passed away.
Baylor, 68, died early Monday morning after a lengthy battle with multiple myeloma.
The world lost one of the truly great humans. Don Baylor passed away early this am.m. at age 68 after a lengthy battle with multiple myeloma
— Tracy Ringolsby (@TracyRingolsby) August 7, 2017
Baylor was a player for six teams including the Balitmore Orioles, California Angels, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. He also managed the Chicago Cubs for three seasons.
Baylor was with the MLB in some capacity for 19 seasons.
Baylor died Monday at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. His wife, Rebecca Baylor, confirmed the death in a statement posted on Major League Baseball's website. He battled multiple myeloma for more than 10 years.
Baylor played in all 162 games in 1979 and finished with career highs in homers (36), RBIs (139), hits (186) and runs (120) while helping the Angels to the American League West title before they lost to Baltimore in the AL championship series.
Baylor returned to the Rockies as a hitting coach in 2009.
On behalf of the Colorado Rockies organization, Owner/Chairman & CEO Dick Monfort made the following statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Becky and the entire Baylor family. Don was instrumental in the creation of the Rockies and in his two stints with the club, he left an impact on each and every one of us. He was a big man with an even bigger heart, a friend of so many. His persona will be a part of our club heritage forever. This is a sad day in Colorado and for all of baseball."
Beginning the Rockies game in Cleveland on Tuesday, the team will honor their original manager by hanging a jersey with his name on the back of their dugout.
The club is planning a tribute to Don Baylor when the team returns home on Aug. 14.