College career Bill Baker attended the
University of Minnesota and was team captain for the 1978-1979 season. He was originally selected 54th overall by the
Montreal Canadiens in the
1976 NHL entry draft. Baker is best known for being a member of the
Miracle on Ice 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that won the
Gold Medal in
Lake Placid, NY. Specifically, he is known for scoring the tying goal as the extra skater in the final minute forcing a 2–2 tie with Sweden in the opening game. This tie allowed the team to eventually advance to the medal round. Baker's jersey from the famed "Miracle On Ice" is on display at the
Smithsonian in
Washington, D.C., U.S. along with a stick autographed by all the members of the team.
Professional career He joined the Canadiens after the Olympics, and was later traded to the
Colorado Rockies in 1981. He also played for Team USA at the 1981
Ice Hockey World Championship and
1981 Canada Cup tournaments. Colorado later traded him to the
St. Louis Blues in exchange for
Joe Micheletti and
Dick Lamby. Baker spent the full 1982–83 season with the
New York Rangers. He spent the 1983-84 season in the
CHL playing for the eventual league championships, the
Tulsa Oilers coached by
Tom Webster. He played 59 regular season games for Tulsa Oilers, but was not with team during post-season. ==Awards and achievements==