9 7 4 ▁ML B ▁D raft , ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁sign ▁with ▁them , ▁instead ▁choosing ▁to ▁attend ▁college ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Oregon . ▁With ▁things ▁not ▁working ▁out ▁in ▁Oregon , ▁Baker ▁left ▁school ▁his ▁fresh man ▁year ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁El ▁C aj on , ▁California . ▁Baker ▁re group ed ▁and ▁was ▁master ful ▁in ▁a ▁season ▁with ▁the ▁G ross mont ▁Junior ▁College ▁Baseball ▁team ▁in ▁El ▁C aj on ▁and ▁he ▁signed ▁with ▁the ▁Detroit ▁Tig ers ▁as ▁an ▁amateur ▁free ▁agent ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁After ▁sp ending ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁season ▁in ▁the ▁minor ▁le agues , ▁Baker ▁made ▁his ▁major ▁league ▁debut ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁In ▁a ▁contest ▁against ▁the ▁Baltimore ▁Ori oles , ▁he ▁pitch ed ▁ 6 ▁inn ings , ▁striking ▁out ▁six ▁and ▁allowing ▁one ▁earned ▁run ▁as ▁the ▁Tig ers ▁lost ▁to ▁the ▁Ori oles , ▁ 2 – 1 . ▁Baker ▁made ▁ 1 5 ▁appearances ▁for ▁the ▁Tig ers , ▁starting ▁ten ▁games , ▁ear ning ▁two ▁wins , ▁four ▁losses , ▁and ▁an ▁earned ▁run ▁average ▁( ER A ) ▁of ▁ 4 . 5 5 . ▁Baker ▁also ▁made ▁ 1 6 ▁appearances ▁for ▁the ▁Evans ville ▁Tri ple ts ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Association , ▁the ▁A AA - level ▁minor ▁league ▁affili ate ▁of ▁the ▁Tig ers . ▁In ▁those ▁appearances