Baker, Mac

Maclyn F. Baker

A 6'0" guard for New York University in the late 1910s and early 1920s, Baker was a legendary defensive player also known for his ball-handling and strong rebounding. An NYU undergraduate newspaper in 1955, looking back at generations of outstanding players, observed that Baker "...led the nation in defense. In seven of the games, his man did not account for a single basket, and in seven others of the schedule he held his opponent to one basket...it is doubtful if any collegiate player will ever come close enough to be mentioned with Baker." After graduating NYU in 1922, Baker played professionally, then became a surgeon, and the team doctor for Seton Hall University.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 7, 1898 - d. Oct 1985

Career Highlights:
The only Jewish player to be named to both the college All-America and AAU All-America teams, Baker began playing basketball in the streets of New York City as a child. In the encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, he said, "I began to play basketball after watching Nat Holman...playing at P.S. 62 in Manhattan...we played in the streets with a rag ball and used ashcans for baskets. We stressed team play rather than shooting because the rag balls didn't bounce..."

A member of the 1914-15 All-Scholastic team while at Stuyvesant High School, Baker originally chose NYU because of its pre-med course. He became a starter on the varsity team only three days after enrolling as a freshman, and helped the Violets finish with a record of 9-3 that year. After serving in the army for two years during World War I, Mac returned to school and was a standout on the great 1920 NYU team.

That year, Baker, a starting guard and defensive specialist, teamed with future NYU coach Howard Cann and Aaron Holman (brother of Hall of Fame coach and player Nat Holman) to lead NYU to one of the greatest seasons in school history. A 16-1 regular season was topped off on March 7 with a 39-21 victory over rival City College of New York (CCNY) in front of a record-crowd of 10,000 at the 22nd Regiment Armory. Baker scored two points in the match in front of the largest crowd to watch a basketball game in New York City up to that point.

The following week, the NYU squad competed in the National AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament and completely dominated their competition. After defeating the Houston Athletic Club 86-21 (Baker scored only four points but, as always, his defense was sterling), the Violets beat the Los Angeles AC, the defending AAU champions, 36-22. The New York Times proudly stated that "no quintet on earth can win over such basketball as the New Yorkers played." Baker was praised for "marvelous exhibitions of the guardian's position." Mac and his NYU mates then completed their run to the AAU title with decisive victories over Kansas City in the semifinals (43-23), and Rutgers in the final (49-24). Baker, who scored four points versus Rutgers and started every game, was named first team AAU All-America.

As an encore to starring on that celebrated Violet squad, Mac was the captain of the 1921 NYU team that finished with a record of 12-1. The only blemish on NYU's record was a 24-11 loss to Penn -- and the Quakers won the national championship that year. Named Helms All-America in both 1920 and 1921, Baker is a member of the NYU Athletics Hall of Fame. A terrific baseball player as well, Mac chose a career in medicine over playing major league baseball.

Origin:
New York

Career Dates:
Baker played guard at NYU, 1917, and 1919-1921.

Physical description:
6'0", 185 pounds

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