{{Short description|American football player (born 1950)}} {{about||the American businessman|Melvin H. Baker}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Melvin Baker | number = 82, 86, 83, 81, 12 | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|8|12}} | birth_place = Beaumont, Texas, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 189 | high_school = Sam Houston (Houston, Texas) | college = Texas Southern (1970–1973) | draftyear = 1974 | draftround = 8 | draftpick = 208 | pastteams = * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1974}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1975}}) * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1975}}) * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1975}}) * Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1976}}) * St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1976}}) * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1977}}) | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 9 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 179 | statlabel3 = Receiving TDs | statvalue3 = 2 | pfr = B/BakeMe00 }}
'''Melvin Clyde Baker''' (born August 12, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, and Houston Oilers. He was selected by the Dolphins in the eighth round of the 1974 NFL draft after playing college football for the Texas Southern Tigers. Baker was also a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and Buffalo Bills.
==Early life and college== Melvin Clyde Baker was born on August 12, 1950, in Beaumont, Texas.<ref name="Pfa">{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/b/bake04000.html | title=Melvin Baker | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=10 March 2025}}</ref> He attended Sam Houston High School in Houston, Texas.<ref name="Pfa"/>
Baker was a member of the Texas Southern Tigers of Texas Southern University from 1970 to 1973.<ref name="Pfa"/>
==Professional career== Baker was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the eighth round, with the 208th overall pick, of the 1974 NFL draft.<ref name="Pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BakeMe00.htm | title=Melvin Baker | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=10 March 2025}}</ref> He played in nine games for the Dolphins during the 1974 season, recording four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, one kick return for 22 yards, and one fumble.<ref name="Pfr"/>
On September 9, 1975, Baker was traded to the New Orleans Saints for an undisclosed draft pick.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bastrop-daily-enterprise/167686964/ | title=Saints Trade Stevens | work=The Bastrop Daily Enterprise | date=September 10, 1975 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=10 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/b/bake04000.html | title=Mel Baker Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=10 March 2025}}</ref> He appeared in two games, starting one, for the Saints, catching two passes for 26 yards while also rushing once for 21 yards.<ref name="Pfr"/> He was released on September 29, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/>
Baker signed with the New England Patriots on October 8, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/> He played in one game for the Patriots, recovering one fumble, before being released on October 20, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/><ref name="Pfr"/>
Baker then signed with the San Diego Chargers and appeared in one game before being released again on November 13, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/><ref name="Pfr"/>
Baker was signed by the Houston Oilers on May 11, 1976.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times/167689016/ | title=Sports Print-Out | work=El Paso Times | date=May 12, 1976 | accessdate=10 March 2025 | pages=2C}}</ref> He played in eight games in 1976, totaling three catches for 32 yards, one rushing attempt for two yards, and one kick return for 15 yards.<ref name="Pfr"/> He was released on November 4, 1976.<ref name="transactions"/>
Baker signed with the St. Louis Cardinals late in 1976.<ref name="transactions"/> He was released on August 31, 1977.<ref name="transactions"/>
Baker was signed by the Buffalo Bills on September 8, 1977.<ref name="transactions"/> He was released on October 27, 1977, without appearing in a game.<ref name="transactions"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Dolphins1974DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Melvin}} Category:Living people Category:1950 births Category:American football wide receivers Category:Texas Southern Tigers football players Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:San Diego Chargers players Category:New England Patriots players Category:Houston Oilers players Category:Players of American football from Beaumont, Texas Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players Category:Buffalo Bills players