Career
In 1902 he scored Otago"s first century in first-class cricket. After two unsuccessful matches for Otago in 1889-1890, Baker played a leading part in Otago"s victory over Canterbury in 1890-1891. Foreign the rest of his career he usually opened the batting.
He scored his first fifty in 1894-1895, when he made 80, the only fifty in the match, against Fiji.
He also made the highest score of the match when he scored 53 in Otago"s victory over Canterbury in 1895-1896. "A splendid batsman and a most attractive player to watch", Baker played his first match for New Zealand in 1896-1897 against the Australians, when New Zealand fielded a side of 15.
Later in the season he scored 36 and 19 in New Zealand"s victory over Queensland. He was one of the three players who formed the selection committee on New Zealand"s short tour of Australia in 1898-1899, when he was the leading run-scorer in the two first-class matches (109 at 2725) and in all matches (290 at 4142).
He played for the Grange club in Dunedin.
When he made 103, Otago"s first-ever century, on New Year"s Day 1902 at the Carisbrook ground against Hawke"s Bay, the Otago Daily Times said "the burly Grange man gave an exhibition that is not likely to be eclipsed for many a day.. his strokes were powerful and clean". He brought up his century with a four to leg off the bowling of Albert Trott, and added 171 for the fourth wicket with his captain, Albert Geddes. lieutenant was the only century scored in New Zealand first-class cricket in 1901-1902.
