Career

Bill Baker played junior football for the Regina Rams in 1963, and college football at Otterbein College, where he was a First Team All-Star for four years. Baker played in a total of 174 games over eleven seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1968–1973, 1977–1978) and British Columbia Lions (1974–1976). Saskatchewan 1960s

In 1968, Saskatchewan had the fewest points allowed in the Canadian Football League with 223, including teams in the Eastern division with two fewer games played, but lost in the Western conference final to the Calgary Stampeders.

Saskatchewan 1970s: first time around

In 1970, the Saskatchewan defence dominated the league again with 206 points allowed, but could not beat Calgary in the Western conference final, or beat Calgary in the Western conference final in 1971.

In the 1973 season, the Roughriders could not get by the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western conference final. British Columbia

Baker had a 3-year stint with the British Columbia Lions, less successful as a team than Saskatchewan during this period.

In the 1974 season, British Columbia lost to Saskatchewan in the semifinal. In the 1975 and 1976 seasons, the team could not reach the playoffs.

Saskatchewan 1970s: second time around

Baker ended his career with a 2-year stint with his former team, Saskatchewan, but neither in 1977 nor in 1978 did Saskatchewan make the playoffs.

Thus, Baker"s career ended on a losing note, his team finishing last in the Western conference with a record of 4-11-1. Canadian Football Hall of Fame

His credo was "your opponents are only as tough as you let them be." According to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, "a Baker forearm to the head was greatly respected by opposing quarterbacks who came within range."

Saskatchewan 1980s: third time around

Bill Baker became general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1987-1988. 1980s: Canadian Football League president

He then became Canadian Football League president in 1988-1989.

Canadian Football Hall of Fame member on YouTube

Seen in game 3 of the 1970 Western finals against Calgary in its entirety on YouTube.

Achievements

• He was a Division All-Star five times, and won the Canadian Football League"s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 1976 as a member of the Lions. In 1969, the Roughrider defence allowed 261 points, second in the conference, and won the Western conference final, but the passing attack of the Russian Jackson-led Ottawa Rough Riders was too much for them in the 57th Grey Cup. In 1972, the Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western conference final, but, despite limiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to just 13 points, lost the 60th Grey Cup game because of a weak offence. Baker won the defensive player of the year award in 1976 despite British Columbia"s mediocre 336 points allowed, third in the Western conference, and a 5-9-2 record, showing he could be great with or without great teammates. Despite never having played on a Grey Cup winner, Baker was inducted to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and, in 2006, was listed at #43 on the TSN Top 50 Canadian Football League Players list.