His business acumen has been credited with turning Michigan's athletic department into a major success and a model for other universities in the early 20th century.

In February 1899, he traveled to Madison, Wisconsin where he signed a two-year contract for football, baseball and track matches with the University of Wisconsin—a program with which Michigan had cut off relations in 1893.

In mid-October 1901, Baird signed a contract with the University of Iowa for a Michigan-Iowa game to be played on Thanksgiving Day at Chicago's West Side baseball park.

[26] In November 1901, Baird issued a public offer that Michigan would play any rival claimant for the Western Conference championship in a post-season game.

During the fall of 1901, the organizers of the Tournament of Roses Parade decided to hold a football game in order to bring tourism into the area.

Tournament of Roses Association president, James Wagner, guaranteed $3,500 to cover the expenses of bringing the football teams to Pasadena, California.

For the past two years Michigan's teams have won the western championship in every branch of sport except baseball, and in a financial way the Baird administration has been phenomenally successful.

[1]In December 1903, newspapers reported that Michigan "pays the three men who are responsible for her supremacy in athletics $10,250 a year" — $3,750 for Yost, $3,500 for Baird, and $3,000 for trainer, Keene Fitzpatrick.

[33] The Los Angeles Times wrote the following about Baird's role at Michigan: But no amount of physical ability will get the money without a good business head to overlook the plebeian affairs at the gate.

3 of the Michigan Athletic Triumvirate is found in the person of Charles Baird, graduate student manager, an accredited college diplomat, arranger of schedules and collarer of collegiate finances.

In 1900, funds were solicited from faculty, students, alumni and Ann Arbor businessmen to send four Michigan track athletes to the Olympics in Paris.

The Michigan athletes won three silver medals in Paris—John McLean in the high hurdles, Charles Dvorak in the pole vault, and Howard Hayes in the 800 meter race.

"[42] In 1902, Detroit businessman Dexter M. Ferry purchased and donated 20 acres (81,000 m2) north of Regent Field for use in constructing a new athletic facility.

In March 1903, Boston Red Sox owner Henry Killilea offered Baird a contract as the baseball team's business manager and financial secretary, replacing Joseph Gavin.

Baird commented on differences in coaching and on the Western teams' focus on speed and continuous development of multiple formations, alternating line plays with end runs, introducing the element of uncertainty and inspiring the spectator.

In the week before the Western Conference championship game against Chicago, Stanford University President David Starr Jordan, wrote a feature article in Collier's making allegations of "professionalism" at Michigan.

"[53] While some accounts noted that Jordan "does not come forward with any direct evidence against the Michigan athletes,"[54] the story was printed in newspapers across the country.

"[56] One week after Jordan's article was published, Michigan's four-year unbeaten streak ended in the last game of the season, a 2–0 loss to rival Chicago.

"[64] Because the decision not to comply with conference rules was not made until the summer of 1907, Baird was not able to sign contracts for a full schedule of football games.

[72] In April 1908, the school's Board in Control of College Athletics voted in favor of withdrawal, and Michigan ceased being a member of the conference for the next nine years.

[74] Seeking to re-focus attention on Michigan as a national power, Baird wrote a column about the team's prospects for 1908 to be published in newspapers across the country.

Baird was positive about the forward pass, stating that it "opens a field for development of skill and science along lines that have been uncultivated" and making the game "more spectacular than ever.

[75] Baird expected "a fierce and hard" game and noted that Michigan had erected bleachers seating over 20,000 people, with arrangements for 7,000 to 8,000 more in standing room accommodations.

The following account is typical of the press coverage at the time: It has become known here that Charles Baird, long the leading figure in athletics at the University of Michigan, has sent his resignation to the faculty....

At present he can be regarded as the richest man connected with the university; that is, by figuring on the wealth of his wife, Mrs. Baird, it has turned out, is the only heir to her father's estate in Kansas City.

"[78] Baird's father-in-law, the president of Kansas City's Interstate National Bank, fell ill with diabetes and carbuncles on the back of his neck,[79] and died in January 1908.

[81][82] In 1912, Baird paid $49,000 for one of the finest homes in Kansas City, a 3-acre (12,000 m2) estate "with forest trees" on Sunset Drive overlooking the Country Club.

[83] In March 1914, Baird, who was then engaged in the investment and farm mortgage business, purchased the Western Exchange Bank in Kansas City and was elected its president.

Baird also donated one of the most well-known sculptures on the University of Michigan campus, "Sunday Morning in Deep Waters" by Swedish sculptor, Carl Milles.

[93] Baird made the gift of the bronze sculpture in 1940 in memory of Thomas McIntyre Cooley, an early professor and dean of the law school.