On October 31, 2008, the SpikesnStars community learned to its shock and sadness that Michael Baker, a.k.a. Mihoba, had died of a heart attack the previous day. Mihoba was a long-time member at SpikesnStars, OrangeWhoopass and AstrosConnection and an all-around contributor, enlivening the old Sunday morning trivia threads, running the site’s unofficial fantasy baseball league war, sharing recap duties and forming half of the two-man rotation sustaining the Post of the Week Award as a regular feature.
More important than being prolific, Mihoba’s style made him truly a friend of the site. His commentary was the opposite of know-it-all smack. Mihoba was witty, open-minded, curious, considerate and unpretentious. He could make his point without a put-down. Judging by the words of those who had the pleasure of knowing him in person, Mihoba’s class was not merely an online phenomenon.
Michael was 47 and is survived by his wife and children. We hope there is some condolence for them in knowing that he set an example for his peers in the way he conducted himself, and we are all better off because he was a part of this place. It is fitting that we honor him in a way that recognizes in a small measure his large contributions to the site. Henceforth, the Post of the Week Award will be known as the Mihoba Post of the Week Award, or just as the Mihoba.
Perhaps somewhere in eternity Mihoba is watching a reality where J.R. Richard plays healthily through the 1980 season and leads the Astros to their first world title; where the 1986 Astros pull out Game 6 and Mike Scott takes the ball and shuts down the Mets in Game 7; where a ball skips past Walt Weiss to put the 1999 Astros up on the Braves; where a timely hit and a seeing-eye single here and there turn the tables in the 2005 World Series; where Jeff Bagwell’s shoulder heals itself and he leads the team into the sunset of his career rather than an early retirement.
And where Michael and his children can play catch in an East Texas pasture any time they please.
God bless you, Mihoba. Rest in peace.
