Background
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Baer was born in 1905. His father was a tailor.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Baer was born in 1905. His father was a tailor.
Baer attended Manual High School.
He played college football at the from 1924 to 1927. He was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference and second-team All-American player in 1927. While in high school, he was an all-state football player at the end position.
Baer played college football at the guard and tackle positions for the Wolverines football teams from 1924 to 1927.
Michigan quarterback Benny Friedman said of Baer: "Ray was the best college lineman I ever saw..the fastest man on the squad, he was smart, he was quick, he was very aggressive, and he had great desire. He was wonderful on both offense and defense."
As a senior, Baer started all eight games at right guard for the 1927 Michigan Wolverines football team
He was selected by the Associated Press (Associated Press) as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player and a second-team All-American in 1927. He was also selected by the United Press as a second-team All-American in 1927.
He concluded his college football career playing on the East team in the December 1927 East–West Shrine Game.
After leaving Michigan, Baer served as the head football coach at Manual High School and Saint Xavier High School, both in Louisville, Kentucky. He died in January 1968 at his home in Louisville at age 62. He has been inducted into the Louisville Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
