Baker began his public career as a vaudeville performer, but turned to driving and racing after winning a dirt-track motorcycle race in Crawfordsville, Indiana in about 1904.
Baker memulai karier publik sebagai pemain vaudeville, tetapi ia lantas beralih ke ajang balap setelah memenangkan perlombaan sepeda motor off-road di Crawfordsville, Indiana pada sekitar 1904.