Paul Bako

Gabor Paul Bako II

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of Southwestern Louisiana
• High School Lafayette (LA) High School
• Debut April 30, 1998
• Final Game October 4, 2009
• Born June 20, 1972 in Lafayette, LA USA

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Biographical Information

Paul Bako was a light-hitting journeyman catcher who appeared with 11 different big league clubs during his 12-year career.

Bako was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 5th round of the 1993 amateur draft and traded to the Detroit Tigers in a deal for Melvin Nieves after the 1997 season. He showed some potential in his debut year, 1998 with Detroit, posting a .272 batting average with 16 extra-base hits and 30 RBI, which turned out to be the second-best statistical season of his career. He was traded again after the season to the Houston Astros in a deal for Brad Ausmus. His 1999 season with Houston was the best of his career statistically, as posted a .690 OPS over 247 plate appearances. Starting in 2000, Bako really began his journey around the big leagues, playing one game for Houston before being sold to the Florida Marlins and later claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves, where he stayed through the end of the 2001 season. After finishing up his stint with the Braves, Bako ended up playing eight seasons with seven clubs and only spending more than one season with the same team, the Chicago Cubs. For his career, Bako ended up with a slash line of .231/.305/.318 with 24 homers and 195 RBI in 2,471 plate appearances. He is estimated to have made $6,490,000 in salary during the course of his career.