Homer Baker

{{Short description|American middle-distance runner (1893–1977)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Homer Baker

| image = Homer Baker pic 190102.png

| image_size = 150px

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| nationality = American

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| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|06|08}}

| birth_place = Buffalo, Erie County, NY

| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|11|25|1893|06|08}}

| death_place = Williamsport, PA

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| country = {{USA}}

| sport = Runner

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| nationals = US Champion, Half-mile(1913 and 1914), British Champion, 880-yards(1914)

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Homer Baker (June 8, 1893 – November 25, 1977) was an American middle-distance track and field athlete.

Career

Baker became US national half-mile champion in 1913 and 1914.Racine Journal News, May 11, 1917

Baker toured Europe during 1914 and won the British AAA Championships title in the 880 yards event at the 1914 AAA Championships, beating the famed Albert Hill.Press Telegram(CA), April 23, 1952{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19140704/056/0002 |title=Amateur Athletics |work=Lancashire Evening Post |date=4 July 1914 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=17 November 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19140706/016/0003 |title=Applegarth's Feats |work=Manchester Courier |date=6 July 1914 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=17 November 2024 }} At the same championships he finished third behind Cyril Seedhouse in the 440 yards event.{{cite web|url=https://nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=17 November 2024 }}

Baker had poor eyesight and withdrew from running for 18 months after a 1917 accident in the New York City Subway.Iowa City Citizen, January 2, 1919 He did the 880 yards (half-mile) in 1,56,4 and 660 yards in 1,20,4 (world record holding up for 26 years).The Fairport Herald Mail, December 14, 1977 In 1923, he was appointed physical director in the Panama Canal Zone.Indianapolis Star, May 6, 1923 Baker was a cousin of silent film star Clara Bow.{{cite news | url=https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-clara-bow-says-she-is-f/119959583/ | title=Clara Bow says she is fast —on a cinder track | work=The Boston Globe | date=23 March 1924 | page=63 }}

References

Category:1893 births

Category:1977 deaths

Category:American male middle-distance runners

Category:Track and field athletes from Buffalo, New York