A graduate of Moon High School in
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, Baechtold played collegiately for
Eastern Kentucky University (1948–1952). Baechtold was selected by the
Baltimore Bullets in the 1st round (2nd pick overall) of the
1952 NBA draft. He played for the Bullets (1952–53) and
New York Knicks (1953–57) in the
NBA for 321 games, averaging 9.7 points and 3.1 rebounds. From 1962 through 1966, Baechtold served as
Eastern Kentucky University’s head basketball coach. In his five seasons, he coached two OVC runners-up and the 1965 conference championship team. He was the
OVC Coach-of-the-Year in 1965. Afterwards, he served for several years as an associate professor in the university's Parks and Recreation Department. ==Career playing statistics==