[4] Baker earned his living driving a laundry van whilst playing for Port Vale's reserves as an amateur.
He spent the 1936–37 season in Stoke's reserves, making only the occasional first-team appearance due to England international Joe Johnson occupying the left-wing position.
[3] He was called up for army duty in 1939 and therefore played few matches for Stoke in the War League, although he did guest for Sunderland and Northern Irish club Linfield.
[3] Baker then suffered a crop of serious injuries which ended his career, in August 1947 he broke his arm against Liverpool and missed most of the 1947–48 season.
He then ran a fish and chips shop in Fenton for many years, coached Stoke's 'A' team and managed non-League Foley until he died in 1989 at the age of 71.