Friends of Basketball

Taft Baker

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:

Carterville Junior High School

Biography:  Taft Baker taught school for 46 years before retiring.  Taft coached for 26 years, 15 at the junior high school in Carterville.  His teams played 326 games and won more than 75% of them.  His 1948-49 and 1949-50 teams compiled a 54-4 record and took second place in the state tournament.  His teams won 10 conference championships.  Taft started the basketball program at one of his schools by playing the game on clay courts.  He was honored by the council of 100 for outstanding work in education.  Taft Baker was a true friend of all sports, especially basketball.

Taft Baker died on November 10, 2002 at the age of 94.