FOOTBALL 1946-'48
All TVL, American Legion Most Valuable Back 1947-'48
13 touchdowns senior year

Stanford University
Colorado A & M

BASKETBALL 1946-'48

TRACK 1947-'49

BASEBALL 1946

Associated Student Body President

John Baker may be best remembered by Carpinterians for his prowess on the football field. The late Frank Burrows, Warrior football coach from 1946 to 1948 remembered Baker best for his long touchdown runs, both from scrimmage and punt returns. He described Baker as having good speed, elusiveness, and could use a pivot as well as any high school runner he had ever seen. During Baker’s Warrior years, he earned ten varsity letters: three in football, three in basketball, and three in track and one in baseball.

John Baker was born to Guy and Lorene Baker in Harrisburg, Illinois, moving to Carpinteria when he was eleven years old. While attending what was then known as Carpinteria Union Elementary School, and Carpinteria High School, the Bakers resided on Vallecito Road on the corner of Carpinteria Avenue and Holly St. John has one sister, Phyllis.

Warrior football, like so many Warriors, past and present, seemed to be Bakers primary athletic interest. He was voted by the league coaches as “All Tri-Valley League” in football both his junior and senior year. Baker participated on three consecutive Tri-Valley League football championship teams, being voted by the American Legion as the Warrior Most Valuable Back his junior and senior year. His career total of touchdown runs is twenty-six, which places him second among all time Warrior rushing leaders. His single season record for touchdowns scored is thirteen, which places him fourth among Warrior rushers. Off the athletic field, Baker served as President of the Associated Student Body his senior year.

Following high school, Baker attended Stanford University for one and one-half years where he participated in Freshmen and Junior Varsity football. He then transferred to Colorado A&M College, where he played Varsity football while earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. Baker concluded his formal education at Colorado State University, earning his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1958.

Baker met and married Grace Marilyn Buck while they were both students at Colorado A&M College. The Bakers have seven grown children and presently live in semi-retirement in Durango, Colorado.

When asked who was his most memorable teacher/coach while attending CHS, Baker responded with: “Frank Burrows, in a no contest. He went on to say,”… not only was he a superb coach and teacher, he was without question the finest man I have ever known… as a coach he was all things: stern, gentle, a strict disciplinarian, patient, a passionate competitor, a man concerned with the character of his players as well as their performance.”