The Details: Chris Baker 'Appreciates Everything I Have Right Now'
June 02, 2016 | General, Baseball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Chris Baker always looked forward to the days he could play catch with his father, Greg. The family had a wiffle ball setup in the backyard and Baker cherished every opportunity to swing a “bat that was almost bigger than I was.”
“Growing up, baseball was a passion of his,” Baker said. “He was a big Giants fan. We used to go to games all the time.”
Baker tried other sports, but he was always pulled back to baseball and, as he got older, Greg turned the game into an educational tool. While playing catch, he wouldn't throw the ball to his son until he answered a math problem.
“It made me learn math in order to play catch and get better,” he said. “It was actually pretty fun looking back on it.”
Now a junior at Washington, Baker still shares a baseball bond with his father. Their connection pushes the third baseman to excel in everything he does. Their relationship is one of the reasons the standout has become one of the Huskies' top talents, a player who has garnered Pac-12 first team and all-defensive honors, and has helped the program earn a spot in postseason – a noon matchup with UC Santa Barbara in Friday's NCAA Regional game in Nashville, Tenn.
But, as much as baseball has been a pivotal part of the father-son relationship, Baker spent the past few years learning from Greg as he has fought off chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
“It's been tough, but I've learned to have a better appreciation for playing baseball, especially at this level, knowing what he's gone through,” Baker said.
Greg was diagnosed during his son's senior year at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. It was December and Baker was preparing for his final high school baseball season.
“When I first found out about my dad, it was tough on me,” he said.
The game didn't seem so important anymore. And he didn't feel comfortable talking about it.
“I just kind of kept it down, buried,” he said.
But, as time went on, as he watched his dad fight through a clinical trial, he found motivation in Greg's journey.
“As soon as I learned to embrace it and just play the game, it was almost like I was doing it for him,” Baker said. “That just really helped me play the game harder.”
Now, when he doesn't feel like conditioning, when he is having a tough day, he thinks about his father and, whatever he is dealing with doesn't seem so difficult.
“He definitely pushes me to be the best player I can be,” Baker said.
During the first two years of Baker's career, Greg made frequent trips to Seattle to watch his son play. This year, though, because of treatments, Greg hasn't been able fly. Instead, he has resorted to driving. He made the shorter trips south from Northern California when the Huskies traveled for series against USC and Cal.
He drove to Seattle twice and then to Utah for Washington's final regular season series.
“To be able to play in front of him, it means the world,” Baker said.
When Baker started in the NCAA Regionals as a freshman, Greg was there. When he hit his first home run, Greg was there. When he drove in the game-winning run with a ninth-inning triple against the Utes last week, Greg was there.
Whether in attendance or following from a distance, Greg has spent the season watching his son blossom into one of the top infielders in the Pac-12. Through 53 games this season, Baker is batting .325 – he has the highest average on the team – with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 34 RBI.
“It's been a good year,” he said. “I've had my ups and downs, but finishing strong is something I've hoped to do and I've been doing that so far.”
When the season ends, Baker will face a decision. Depending on where he lands in the MLB draft, he will explore his professional options.
“It's definitely something I'm thinking about and, if I go at the right time, we'll see what happens,” he said. “I want to play baseball at the next level, so if I get the opportunity, we'll see.”
However, that decision will come soon enough. He is currently focused on helping the Huskies extend their season as long as possible.
“At the beginning of the year, we struggled a little bit trying to figure out who was going to play where, finding out the makeup of the team,” he said. “Once we started to figure out spots, we started to come together as a team and playing pretty well.
"Hopefully we can play our best baseball this weekend in Nashville. Hopefully everyone can embrace it and enjoy it, because it's such a huge stage. It's so much fun.”
During Washington's last trip to NCAA Regionals, Baker thought the crowd would be intimidating. Once the game started, though, the 10,000 voices faded into the background.
That lesson is one Baker has shared with his young teammates as they traveled east.
Now, as Washington prepares for the postseason, one question remains: Will Greg drive to Nashville?
“He might make the trip, you never know,” Baker said.
But, whether or not he can travel to the game, he will be watching. And, with Greg looking on, the infielder plans to play his best baseball, yet another opportunity to further the father-son baseball bond.
“Knowing what he's gone through,” Baker said, “I've learned to have a better appreciation for playing baseball.”
