Ray Baartz

Raymond Henry "Ray" Baartz (born 6 March 1947) is an Australian former soccer player who played as a forward. He represented Australia 48 times between 1967 and 1974, scoring 18 goals, making him the nation's eighth-highest goal scorer of all time.

Baartz was born in Newcastle, New South Wales and spent his early years playing for Adamstown. At 17 he joined Manchester United and after 6 months signed on a two-year contract. In 1966 he returned to Australia and transferred to Sydney Hakoah for a then Australian record of £5600. He played 236 club matches scoring 211 goals.

Baartz was selected in the Australian squad to play in the World Cup finals in 1974 but his career was prematurely ended after he was felled by a blow from Uruguay's Luis Garisto (known as el Loco (in English crazy)) in a friendly international fixture at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The blow to his throat had damaged his carotid artery.

Ray currently still lives in Newcastle.

Awards and recognition
Baartz was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.

Baartz Terrace in the Sydney suburb of Glenwood is named for him.

On 5 December 2000, Baartz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to soccer.

On 12 July 2012, Baartz was named in the Greatest ever Australian team.