Homer Baker (June 8, 1893 – November 25, 1977) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, middle-distance

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...

athlete. He became US national half-mile champion in 1913 and 1914. He toured Europe during 1914 and won the British 880-yard crown from the famed Albert Hill. Baker had poor eyesight and withdrew from running for 18 months after a 1917 accident in the

New York City Subway The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Opened on October 2 ...

. He did the 880 yards (half-mile) in 1,56,4 and 660 yards in 1,20,4 (world record holding up for 26 years). In 1923 he was appointed physical director in the

Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone ( es, Zona del Canal de Panamá), also simply known as the Canal Zone, was an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Isthmus of Panama, that existed from 1903 to 1979. It was located within the terr ...

.Indianapolis Star, May 6, 1923

References

1893 births 1977 deaths American male middle-distance runners Track and field athletes from Buffalo, New York {{US-middledistance-athletics-bio-stub