Challenge Cup Competition
Career: 1871
From Albert Park.
1871 The Argus has F. Baker named in the Carlton First Twenty team to play Melbourne at Melbourne on Saturday 8th. July.
1876 September 23
Fred Baker was playing for Melbourne against Carlton.
He was involved in an incident which resulted in a goal to the Reds.
Baker pushed Nudd of Carlton in back then took a mark, he then played on, turned around and kicked a goal.
The central umpire failed to pay the free kick to Nudd.
The Blues protested, the umpire admitted his mistake and said he was going to have Melbourne's goal annulled, but later changed his mind.
Instead of a drawn game, Carlton lost the match 1-2 and as a result Melbourne claimed the 1876 Premiership.
The Blues won the premiership in 1873, 1874, 1875 and again in 1877, this incident may have cost the Blues a fivepete!
Melbourne's vice captain in 1880 was an F. Baker - Argus Thursday July 01 p7 Melbourne v Norwood
Volume 5 of "Origins of Australian Football" has Fred Baker playing around 60 - 63 games with Melbourne 1876 - 1881, he also played with Albert Park and Carlton.
1887 January 13
Melbourne Punch (p9) mentions Fred Baker is the proprietor of a store at Yarragon Gippsland.
Photo courtesy of demonwiki web site