POTLATCH
POTLATCH #2
Released June 23, 2014 8:24AM
Union Station, Los Angeles, California
My mother and grandmother always told me that
my maternal grandfather was a lead “foreman” on
the construction of Union Station. It was a great
source of family pride. I never met him. He died
when my mother was 15 years old. His name was
James Baker. He came to California from
Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
James Baker played the fiddle and taught music,
but he was also a baseball player. My mother
always said that his proselytizing father would not
let James sign professionally because it would
mean he would have to play games on Sunday,
which was forbidden by his family.
James Smith Baker was a pitcher. b.1899 d.1944

POTLATCH #2

Released June 23, 2014 8:24AM
Union Station, Los Angeles, California
My mother and grandmother always told me that
my maternal grandfather was a lead “foreman” on
the construction of Union Station. It was a great
source of family pride. I never met him. He died
when my mother was 15 years old. His name was
James Baker. He came to California from
Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
James Baker played the fiddle and taught music,
but he was also a baseball player. My mother
always said that his proselytizing father would not
let James sign professionally because it would
mean he would have to play games on Sunday,
which was forbidden by his family.
James Smith Baker was a pitcher. b.1899 d.1944