The sun., 1918-12-29
HOBBY BAKER WAS
CHIP OF OLD BLOCK.
Alfred T. Baker, His Father, q
Famous Princeton Player
Of Early Eighties.
MANY SIMILAR TRAITS
Sen Showed Parents Goodness
in Crisis-0ne Notable
Instance.
MANY SIMILAR TRAITS

Except TO old Princeton men, few OF
the myrlads OF friends OF the late HOBBY
Baker, the Princeton sports hero who
met his death in an Hirplane accident In
Toul, France. last Saturday, know that
his father, Alfred Thornton Baker. was
a famous Princeton football player.
Luther L. Price, a we'll known player OF
the period. gives some interesting i:tor-
nation about Alfred 7. Baker and the
early training of the son who was killed
in France.
Perhaps" sage Price. mot man
persons outside Of the older graduates
know of the Influences that led to Ho-
bey's development into a great athlete.
In his early boy hood days he received
the ncouraeement and assistance or ms
father. Alfred 7. Baker OF Philadelphia
In the laying of "a foundation for athletic
skill. Pride in his parents record as q
football player at Princeton had much
to do with his zest for tlSe gridiron sport
and many fine points of the game were
drilled into him by his daddy throughout
the sons prep school period.
ITO old Princeton men the father ls
we'll known as 'Alfy' Baker, the noted
halfback who played three years on the
university eleven, 1SS2-1SS5. lie was a
splendid dodger and runner and could
kick well. though probably not as far as
his son. Bakers comrades on the FOOT
ball eleven included some or the most
noted in Princetou's gridiron history.
On the teams with which Baker played
were:
'Jere Haxall, who holds the record
for the longest goal ever kicked from
placement In American intercollegiate
history Johnson Poe. the first or the
Poes in Old Nassau's long line; John
and Jim Harlan, sons Of the late justice
Harlan Of the United States supreme
Court Alex Moffatt. the greatest OF all
Princeton drop klckers, who cour and
aid use either foot with equal skill. and
finally H. c. CTilly) Lamar, the brilliant
halfback who won the game against
Yale in 1885 by "A sensational run in the
last few minutes Of the contest.
Each d Athlete.
"Alfy Baker. as was his son. was al
WAYS a modest athlete. He was not quite
as sturd3ly set as was his son. but IN
many points their method o. play was
decidedly similar. Both were always
cool In the most critical periods OF
games and watched for most favorable
advantages. Self-control and quick per
ception were powerful assets in their
climb to athletic success.
AN old Princeton halfnack who saw
Ally Baker play in many games
watched HOBBY the latter part OF the
first game that he played against Yale
Hobv was alone in the back field, the
fnal bastion against a Yale k!ck or
run. The period was extremely critical
the score favoring Princeton and Yale
making desperate attempts to gain q
last minute victory.
"If there Is ever a time when a player
Is apt TO display agitation 1t Is In such
n position as HOBBY was placed that
afternoon. The old Princeton bach
studied HOBBY. He was Unable TO dis
Germ the slightest "trepidation on the
part OF the young athlete, who coolly
caught all tie purts and showed him
self to be a complete master of the sit
uation.
"It was the best revelation of Hobey's
early training that could possibly bt
had and made a deep impression on tbs
old player. who recalled his own eX'
periences in "A similar situation