Talk:Benjamin Howard Baker

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Surname[edit]

Different references show him as "Howard-Baker", "Howard Baker" or "Baker".

Graham Betts in "England – Player by Player", lists him alphabetically under Baker, but says that "there is some confusion as to his name". This lead is followed by on-line listings such as www.englandstats.com[1] and www.englandfc.com[2].

The Everton Football Club website, however, refers to him as "Benjamin Howard-baker"[3], whereas the official Chelsea Football Club site lists him as "Ben HOWARD BAKER" ([4]).

In "Play up Corinth – A History of the Corinthian Football Club" by Rob Cavallini, he is referred to in match reports as "B. Howard-Baker" or, sometimes, "B. Howard Baker". Thus, in the review of his first season with Corinthian (1919–20), the book refers to him as the "Olympic athlete B. Howard-Baker". It's worth noting that, as all Corinthians were amateurs, the club's records refer to every player by surname and initials, never by Christian name. To me this is sufficient proof, in the absence of a birth certificate or registration papers, that he was known as "Howard-Baker", with or without the hyphen. Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 06:22, 3 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The Football Association's website[5] refers to him as Benjamin Baker. --Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 06:30, 4 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Name[edit]

And he wasn't known as 'Ben'! I realise I'm 'vandalising' this page, and I apologise - but I have no idea how to load this much info onto it otherwise (I simply can't understand how I get to contact the author this page). But it shouldn't look 'vandalised' for too long: once the author gets to see it, he or she can decide whether I'm right or wrong - and I'm not wrong! There's no question of Howard Baker having been known as Ben. No 1920s source and none of his contemporaries ever call him that. His surname was Baker, not Howard Baker (and certainly not hyphenated). Doug Lamming's seminal Who's Who of England players confirms that - but it was written in 1988, so if you want something more contemporary, you're quite right. Here it is! Gamage's annual for 1926-27 calls him B. Howard Baker - but BH Baker in its list of England international players. The book Get To Your Marks (a history of athletics), by the famous McWhirter twins, also calls him BH Baker - and Howard Baker, not Ben. The Times 4 Oct 1921 refers to Max Woosnam - and Howard Baker. Its 18 Jan 1923 edition: 'there was B. Howard Baker in goal. Baker had much more to do'. Finally, any number of books call him Howard Baker (not B. Howard Baker or Howard-Baker, and certainly not Ben!), e.g. The Jimmy Seed Story (by the England international of the same name), Soccer Ace of Games (by the contemporary journalist Alec Whitcher), 50 Years Of Football 1884-1934 (by the former FA secretary Frederick Wall), The Football Encyclopædia (1934), and a letter from GO Smith, no less. If this isn't evidence enough, what's yours?! Hope this helps. Apologies again for the clumsy way I've done this. You can email me at crisfreddi@hotmail.com, and ask Dave Barber at the FA for my credentials (I'm their sort of semi-official England statto and I write for the England match programme). All the best, Cris

Above content moved from article. Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 12:12, 25 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Contemporary sources[edit]

I agree that “most” contemporary sources refer to him as “Baker” but there are many that don’t, preferring “Howard Baker” or “Howard-Baker”. For example:

The Times (14/01/1924) in a report of Corinthian’s FA Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers: “A few minutes later, Howard Baker kicked the length of the ground from his own goal, and two minutes after that Phillips nearly scored with an unexpected shot, which was ... saved by Sewell.”

The Times (04/02/1924) in a report of the next FA Cup match, at West Bromwich Albion: “For no apparent reason a penalty was given against the Corinthians, and Davies gave Howard Baker no chance to save.” and “Reed ... was enabled to run through unhindered and beat Howard Baker from close in.”

The Times (12/01/1925) in a report in a report of an FA Cup match at Sheffield United: “Johnson shot straight to Howard-Baker from close in...” and “From the free kick given against Hegan the ball came to Gillespie ... a fine shot was well saved by Howard-Baker”.

The Times (11/01/1926) in a report of the FA Cup draw with Manchester City: “Howard Baker just managed to keep a hard shot from Dennison out of his goal”, “Austin headed a good centre ... but Howard Baker saved and cleared beautifully” and “Howard Baker came out to catch a centre from Austin, took two steps, ran into Bower, took two more steps, cleared – and was penalized”.

In the report of the replay of this match, the Times (14/01/1926) says: “A dropping centre ... gave Austin a second chance, and, although his shot was hard and at close range, Baker probably should have saved it.”

The Times (31/01/1927) in a report of the FA Cup match against Newcastle United: “Baker was unsighted.” and “Baker and the veteran A.E. Knight accomplished some amazing saves after this...”

The Times (02/03/1927) in a report on a match at Red Star Olympic: “Howard Baker was called upon to save a hard drive”, “the Frenchmen attacked, and Chantrel beat Howard Baker with a good shot” and “Nicolas took the (penalty) kick, but shot straight into Howard Baker’s hands”.

The Times (28/01/1929) in a report on the FA Cup match at West Ham United: “Baker saved well, and the next chance was at the other end of the field when Bower ... sent Hegan away...” and “Baker plunged at the ball as it all but reached the goal-post...”

The Times (13/01/1930) in a report on the FA Cup draw with Millwall: “Howard-Baker did well to save a high shot from Cock...”

The Times (16/01/1930) in a report on the first replay of this match: “Poxton ... had no difficulty in beating Howard-Baker.” In a cartoon of the same match, the cartoonist includes the captions “with Howard Baker beaten”, “a Millwall forward headed past Baker” and “Baker caught it on the rebound.” In a cartoon of the second replay, the same cartoonist : “Corinthians deserved to lose because their goalkeeper, Howard Baker had a bad afternoon”, “nobody on the ground felt so sorry for Howard Baker, than Howard Baker himself” and “Howard came out of goal when he should have stayed in...”

In the programme for the Oxford University match against the Corinthians on 22 October 1932, all players (for both sides) are listed with their initials and surname; the Corinthian’s goalkeeper is shown as “B. Howard Baker”.

The Times (27/10/1932) in a report on a match against Arsenal: “In the second half, the Corinthians scored first, C.T. Ashton getting the goal from a penalty kick. Bastin then scored with perhaps the finest shot of all for he had little room to place the ball between Howard Baker and the post”.


As you can see, there is no consistency between these articles, although it is proper to add that in all the reports, Christian names are never used for any of the other players mentioned, for either the Corinthians or the opposition. Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 06:16, 15 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]


May I add a few more, only one of which is football-related, in the hope of clearing this up.
The Times of 23 April 1921 lists the International Selection Committee of the Football Association's team to play Belgium on May 21, including in goal, B. Howard Baker. As was the convention of the time, professionals were listed with surname only and amateurs with initial(s) and surname.
The Times of 23 July 1920, listing the athletics team for the upcoming Olympic Games, includes B. Howard Baker, selected for the High Jump, the Hop, Step and Jump, and Throwing the Javelin. All other athletes are listed with initial(s) and surname.
The Times' correspondence column on 27 August 1920 carries a letter signed by members of the British Olympic team including B. Howard Baker. All other signatories use initial(s) and surname.
The Times of 31 June 1951 announces the forthcoming marriage announcement of "Mr. B. Howard Baker, Jnr., and Miss A. Layfield", to wit, "Benjamin, elder son of Mr and Mrs B. Howard Baker of Gayton Hall, Wirral, Cheshire", and
on 28 February 1953, the births column carried the announcement of the arrival of a grandchild: "HOWARD BAKER. On ... at ... to Ann (née Layfield), wife of Ben Howard Baker, a daughter."
I'd also suggest that the hyphenated versions might well arise from a mistaken assumption either by reporter, copytaker or sub-editor that double-barrelled surnames would normally be hyphenated. cheers, Struway2 (talk) 18:57, 23 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Third opinion[edit]

The Times sources shown by Daemonic Kangaroo (assuming he has quoted them correctly, and I have no reason to assume he wouldn't) would seem to suggest that, even during his playing days, there were discrepancies in how this player's name was reported in reliable sources. I therefore suggest that the statement that "all contemporary sources treat his surname as Baker" be removed and we simply say that sources differ as to whether his surname was Baker, Howard Baker, or Howard-Baker, as there appears to be no 100% definitive source either way -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 16:28, 23 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

From Bob Phillips, trackstats@free.fr. I've just had published a biography of Benjamin Howard Baker and I can confirm that 'Benjamin Howard' were originally his first names and 'Baker' his surname. But in order to distinguish himself from others named 'Baker' - including an Olympic athletics team-mate and great friend of his, Philip Baker, who later became Lord Noel-Baker - he adopted 'Howard Baker' as his surname. I found at least half-a-dozen variants of his name in contemporary reports. He died in 1987 at the age of 95, but I had contact with descendants in the course of writing the book. He has good claim to being Britain's finest all-round sportsman, having competed twice in the Olympic high jump, holding the British record for the event for 25 years, and playing in goal 93 times for Chelsea during the 1920s, eight times for the England amateur XI and twice for the full professional XI while remaining an amateur. He was also an outstanding water-polo and tennis player, a diver and swimmer, a Lancashire Second XI cricketer, a boxer, yachtsman and rower ! At the same time he built up a multi-million-pound chemical manufacturing business in Liverpool, his home city, and London. Details of my biography are available on the DB Publishing website. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.253.249.73 (talk) 07:15, 22 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

  • This would explain the confusion. Per this source,[6] from the 1901 and 1911 censuses his parents' surname was Baker. In 1901 his first name is given as Howard and in 1911 as Benjamin. It seems that only after this was his surname given as "Howard Baker". Cjc13 (talk) 11:15, 27 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Where's the evidence that Baker 'adopted' Howard as part of his surname? The bottom line is that he's never referred to as Benjamin or Ben in any contemporary source I've ever seen - and I've seen hundreds. Here's a few (apart from the ones I quoted above:

A letter from GO Smith in Corinthians And Cricketers (E Grayson 1955), the New York Times 5 March 1922 ('The Amateur Athletic Association of Great Britain has passed favourably upon the records of Howard Baker, high jump star, and A.G. Hill, noted British distance star...Baker's mark of 6 feet 5 inches'). NY Times again: ed. 5 July 1914: athletics championships (AAA): '[Wesley] Oler, with a magnificent effort in his last try, took the high jump title from B.H. Baker of Liverpool.' Manchester Guardian 26 Oct 1925 (Ireland v England): 'Howard Baker often achieved marvellous feats...a clever shot which Baker saved...within a few yards of Baker...Baker saved a long dropping centre'. Play To The Whistle (J Wiltshire 1948): 'the Chelsea goalkeeper, Howard Baker'. Everton v Bury match prog 1 Nov 1924: 'Howard Baker is to hold the fort at Belfast against the Irish Amateurs.' Literally hundreds of eds. D Express and D Mirror: B. Howard Baker or plain Howard Baker. D Express 14 Oct 1921 calls him B. Howard Baker, Howard Baker, and Baker (!): headline HOWARD BAKER BECOMES A PENSIONER; 'B. Howard Baker, the British champion high jumper, hurdler, Association footballer, and sports expert generally, signed on yesterday for Chelsea. He will play as an amateur. Baker, who stands over six feet, and kicks the bll over the half-way line without noticebable effort'. D Mirror 8 July 1920: 'Howard Baker the high jumper' in same para as H.M. Abrahams and G.B.D Rudd. D Express 14 March 1921: headline 'HOWARD BAKER AT TOTTENHAM' for Everton: 'Howard Baker, in the visitors' goal'; D Mirror 14 March 1921: action photo caption 'Howard Baker, Everton's amateur goalie, taking the ball on the line against the 'Spurs, who won 2-0.'); ed. 17 Oct 1921: 'the Pensioners, who had Howard Baker in goal'); ed. 21 Nov 1921: Chelsea v Bradford City: 'The only goal of the match was scored from a penalty a few minutes before the end, Howard Baker, the goalkeeper, beating Ewart with a terrific drive.'

I know The Times got it into their heads to hyphenate Howard and Baker, but almost no other publicatiion does it - and, as I say, there are hundreds and hundreds of other sources from his playing career which call him Howard. If anyone unearths a CONTEMPORARY source calling him Benjamin or Ben, then there's debate to be had. Until then, you HAVE to call him Howard. because that was the name he was known by! Cris Freddi — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.35.3.81 (talk) 12:57, 30 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Update[edit]

I see that in December 2012, Bob Phillips' book on Baker "Benjamin Howard Baker - Sportsman Supreme" was published. ( see here) On page 9, he discusses Baker's name saying "

Benjamin Howard Baker…Benjamin Howard-Baker…B. Howard Baker…Ben Howard Baker…B.H. Baker…HB… or just plain Howard Baker. His close friends knew him as ‘Howard’ or ‘Harry’. Call him what you will. The newspapers of the early 1920s were airily inconsistent in the matter, and those are by no means the only variations on his name which appeared in print. His preference was for ‘B. Howard Baker’ because he felt it distinguished him from others named ‘Baker

-- Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 05:16, 8 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

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