BILL BAKER
Basketball and Track, 1936-39
Inducted October 30, 1982

Bill Baker was a two-sport standout for SMS from 1935 through 1939, lettering four seasons each in basketball and track.  He came to SMS from nearby Rogersville after having lettered four years in each of the two sports in high school.  During Baker’s SMS track career, the Bears of Coaches Andy McDonald and Speedy Collins were second to Southeast Missouri in seven straight league championship meets, indoor and outdoor.  Baker’s specialties were the pole vault and javelin.  The Bruins were the league runnerup in basketball in 1938 and finished third in 1939 although the 1939 team was later selected to be the first SMS team ever to play in the NAIB tournament in Kansas City.  Baker led the team in scoring his senior season and signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Browns after he left school.