Benjamin Howard Baker

Benjamin Howard Baker[1] (13 February 1892 – 10 September 1987) was an English athlete who excelled in a wide range of sports, mostly in association football and high jump.[2][3]

Benjamin Howard Baker
Benjamin Howard Baker at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Howard Baker
Date of birth (1892-02-13)13 February 1892
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Date of death 10 September 1987(1987-09-10) (aged 95)
Place of death Warminster, England
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Marlborough Old Boys (Liverpool)
Liverpool Balmoral
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1913–1914 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
1914–1915 Preston North End 0 (0)
1919–1920 Liverpool 0 (0)
1919–1933 Corinthian 210 (0)
1921 Everton 2 (0)
1921–1926 Chelsea 92 (1)
1926 Everton 11 (0)
1928–1929 Oldham Athletic 1 (0)
Total 106 (1)
National team
1921–1925 England 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In team sports, Baker was goalkeeper for England, Chelsea,[4] Everton and Oldham Athletic football clubs, having previously played for the renowned amateur team, the Corinthians. He played for the "Amateurs" in the 1925 FA Charity Shield.[5] He was also an international-level water polo goalkeeper.[3] Baker initially played as a defender, and took the keeper position after his ankle was damaged in a naval mine sweeping operation during World War I.[2]

In singles, doubles and mixed doubles, Baker competed in the 1929 Northern Qualifying Tournament for Wimbledon without making the main draw in any event and won the 1932 Welsh Covered Courts tennis competition.[2][3]

Individually, Baker held British records in the high jump (1.95 m, from 1921 to 1946)[3] and triple jump.[6] He competed in these events at the 1912 and 1920 Olympic Games and finished in 6–11th places. At the Northern Counties Championships he won the high jump (1911–14, 1919–21), 120 yd hurdles (1921) and discus throw (1920); he also won the long jump at the 1920 Northern Olympic Trials. After retiring from sports Baker joined the family firm producing soap and chemicals and became a renowned businessman in the Liverpool area.[3]

Although Baker was sometimes known as Benjamin Howard-Baker (such as in 'Play Up Corinth - A history of the Corinthian Football Club') his baptism record at St Margaret, Anfield on 28 March 1892 shows his Christian names as 'Benjamin Howard', and his surname as 'Baker'. His father had the same name.[7]

References
  1. Sources differ as to whether his surname was Baker, Howard-Baker or Howard Baker
  2. Richard William Cox; Dave Russell; Wray Vamplew (2002). Encyclopedia of British Football. Psychology Press. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-0-7146-5249-8.
  3. Howard Baker Archived 18 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  4. "Player Profile: Benjamin Howard Baker". stamford-bridge.com.
  5. "Professionals v. Amateurs – selected teams for annual match". Derby Daily Telegraph. 26 September 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 21 March 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Prentice, David (30 September 2014). "Roberto Martinez hails 'phenomenal' Tyias Browning after impressive Everton FC debut". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. ancestry.co.uk
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