Mineral Point High School

Nose Tackle/Offensive End: 1967-1968

Bob Baker was a two-time First Team All-Conference player during the 1967 and 1968 football seasons.  Bob was a big play threat as an end on offense, and a huge disruptive force at nose tackle on defense. 

Despite being only 135 pounds as a senior, Bob’s quickness, toughness, and speed earned him First Team All-SWAL recognition for both his junior and senior seasons.  In those years, there was not an offensive and defensive team, just a 14 person First Team, and a 14 person Second Team for the entire 13 team SWAL Conference.  Making First team for two seasons is an impressive feat.  Bob also received a vote for Conference MVP in 1967, and was second in voting for Conference MVP in 1968.  He was named to the Third Team All-Madison Area Squad by the Capital Times for the 1968 season, and Bob finished third in scoring for the Conference in 1968 with eight touchdowns and 48 points.

Bob was instrumental in the team securing a share of the Conference title in 1967, being responsible for the only scores in two pivotal games.  Bob had the only score against Iowa-Grant in a 7-0 victory.  He blocked a punt, and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.  In a defensive coach’s dream, Bob tackled Platteville’s All-State quarterback in the endzone for a safety in a 2-0 victory over the Conference Co-Champion Hillmen.

Bob fondly remembers his time playing with his teammates on two fantastic Pointer teams, and singled out a 69-6 thrashing of Fennimore during his senior season in which he and seven of his fellow Pointers scored touchdowns.  The Pointers passed for 498 yards in that game, which was likely a school record at that time.

Bob and his wife Robin live in Waldwick.  He is retired from Cummins, and now spends his time as a commercial beekeeper.  His son James lives and works at Cummins in Mineral Point, and his daughter Catherine is the assistant District Attorney in Fond du Lac.

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