Art Baker (gridiron football)

the Syracuse Orange

Arthur R. Baker (born December 31, 1937) is a former collegiate and professional American football player. He played college football at Syracuse University, where he was an All-American fullback in the backfield with Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. He was also an NCAA wrestling champion at Syracuse in 1959, becoming only the second African-American to win an NCAA wrestling title. In 1959, he was the only college athlete to win division one national titles in two different sports in the same year. He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Bills in 1961 and 1962. He then went to the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he played four seasons, mainly for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.