Gerry Baker
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gerard Austin Baker | ||
| Date of birth | 11 April 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | New Rochelle, New York, United States | ||
| Date of death | 24 August 2013 (aged 75) | ||
| Place of death | Wishaw, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Craigneuk Boys Club | |||
| Larkhall Thistle | |||
| 1955–1956 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956–1958 | Motherwell | 11 | (4) |
| 1958–1960 | St Mirren | 63 | (42) |
| 1960–1961 | Manchester City | 37 | (14) |
| 1961–1963 | Hibernian | 59 | (27) |
| 1963–1967 | Ipswich Town | 135 | (58) |
| 1967–1970 | Coventry City | 31 | (5) |
| 1969 | → Brentford (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 1970–1971 | Margate | 40 | (10) |
| 1971–1973 | Nuneaton Borough | 45 | (15) |
| 1973–1974 | Bedworth United | ||
| 1974–1975 | Worcester City | 7 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1968–1969 | United States | 7 | (2) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1970–1971 | Margate | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Gerard Austin Baker (11 April 1938 – 24 August 2013) was an American footballer. From 1955 until 1970, he played sixteen seasons in either the Scottish or English first division. He also earned seven caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team in 1968 and 1969.
Baker was born to Scottish parents in New Rochelle, New York, where they were settled at the time. In 1939, his parents moved for a short while to Liverpool, where Gerry's brother, future England international Joe Baker, was born. Their father volunteereed in the Merchant Marine during World War II and died on active service. The family was evacuated to Scotland, and the brothers were raised in Motherwell.
He attended Park Primary and St. Joseph Secondary schools. He played football for Craigneuk Boys Club and was selected for Lanarkshire Schools. He signed with Larkhall Thistle when he was fourteen and played in six games.
He transferred to Chelsea in May 1949, aged 17, and played in their youth and third team in the 1955–56 season. The following season, he appeared in six games for their reserves (scoring four goals), plus their third team. Baker made one appearance for the Chelsea first team, playing against Luton Town in a Southern Floodlight Cup match on 26 September 1956. He returned to Scotland in late 1956 due to homesickness.
Baker signed with Scottish First Division club Motherwell, where he played as outside left, in December 1956. Over the next three years, he played thirteen games, scoring four goals, with the first team. Motherwell transferred Baker to St Mirren during the 1958–59 season, as he was unable to oust Ian St. John and Pat Quinn from their team.
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