Fred Baer

Frederick N. Baer (July 2, 1932 – March 21, 2007) was an American football player. He played at the fullback position for the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1954. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1954 Michigan Wolverines football team.

Fred Baer
No. 30     Michigan Wolverines
Fred Baer, 1954
Born:(1932-07-02)July 2, 1932
Died:March 21, 2007(2007-03-21) (aged 74)
Career information
Position(s)Fullback
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight188 lb (85 kg)
CollegeMichigan
High schoolOak Park (IL) Fenwick
Career history
As player
1952–1954Michigan
Career highlights and awards
AwardsMVP, 1954 Michigan football team
Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame

Early years

Baer's home town was La Grange, Illinois. He attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois.[1][2] He played fullback for the Fenwick Friars in the Chicago Catholic League during the 1949 and 1950 football seasons; in 1949, he played in the same backfield with 1953 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner.[3][4][5] Baer and Lattner were both later inducted in the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame.[6]

University of Michigan

Baer enrolled at Michigan in 1951. In May 1952, the Associated Press wrote that Baer "sparkled" in spring practice, leading Michigan head coach Bennie Oosterbaan to say, "He's going to be a real football player. I don't know if he'll be ready by fall but he could be."[7] As a sophomore in 1952, Baer started three games at fullback,[8] but was used principally as a backup for Dick Balzhiser and Bob Hurley during the 1952 and 1953 seasons.[1] He started six games at fullback for the 1954 Wolverines.[9][10] Baer's best game for the Wolverines came in a 34-0 win over Minnesota on October 23, 1954, as he gained 94 rushing yards on 17 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and scored two touchdowns. The following week against Indiana, he rushed for 92 yards on 22 carries (4.2 yards per carry) and scored one touchdown. In his final game for Michigan, he gained 75 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry against Ohio State.[11] Baer played for the Wolverines on defense as well as offense and was considered "a vicious tacker and a hard runner."[12] After the 1954 season, Baer was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1954 Michigan football team.[1] He was also selected to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic.[13] He scored the winning touchdown for the blue team on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Missouri's Vic Eaton.[14]

Baer graduated from Michigan in 1955 with a bachelor of arts degree in history.[15]

Professional football

Baer was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 14th round (161st overall pick) of the 1955 NFL Draft.[16] He signed with the Packers in February 1955.[17][18]

Death

Baer died in March 2007 at age 74; he was a resident of La Grange, Illinois at the time of his death.[19]

References
  1. "Michigan Names Baer". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1954-11-24.
  2. "Wolverines Fete Cachey, Baer Tonight". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1955-01-26.
  3. David Condon (1949-12-01). "OPPONENTS FIND FENWICK GETS TOUGHER NEAR SEASON'S END" (PDF). Chicago Daily Tribune.("Lattner isn't Fenwick's entire offense. Bob Rigali and Fred Baer are two other backs who helped Fenwich through an undefeated season.")
  4. Ralph Leo (1950-01-19). "FENWICK SENIORS TO TACKLE '49 NEMESIS AGAIN TOMORROW" (PDF). Chicago Daily Tribune.
  5. "Fenwick and De Paul to Meet Today". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1950-11-19. p. A3.("Full Back Fred Baer and Quarter Back Tom Harte are expected to spark the Friars' attack. Baer and Harte have been mainstays in the Fenwick back field ...")
  6. "CCLCA Hall of Fame List 2009" (PDF). Chicago Catholic League.
  7. "Baer Sparkles At Michigan: Wolverines End Spring Grid Drills". Lowell Sun (AP story). 1952-05-18.
  8. "1952 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  9. "1954 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  10. "MICHIGAN MAY LOSE BAER FOR GAME AT OHIO". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1954-11-18.
  11. "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan.
  12. John F. Mayhew (1952-10-15). "Oosterbaan Need To Add Fullback To M's Backfield". Ludington Daily News.
  13. "University of Michigan Football All-Star Game Participants". University of Michigan. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  14. "Missouri Aces Spark Blues Over Greys". Tri City Herald (AP story). 1954-12-26.
  15. 1955 Michiganensian yearbook. p. 403.
  16. "1955 NFL Player Draft". database football. Archived from the original on 2010-09-09.
  17. "Packers Sign Baer". The News Palladium, Benton, Harbor, Michigan (AP story). 1955-02-25.
  18. "Packers Sign Baer, Michigan Full Back". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1955-02-25.
  19. "Social Security Death Index (SSDI)". Roots Web.
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