By Darin Terry Baker redefined the term “student-athlete” during a magical 1962 season that remains unparalleled in sports history. While most players struggle to master one discipline, Baker dominated the gridiron and the classroom simultaneously. He led the Oregon State Beavers with a lethal combination of passing precision and breakaway speed, culminating in a legendary 99-yard touchdown run that still stands as a postseason record. From winning the Heisman Trophy to being named Sportsman of the Year, Baker remains the only individual to capture the most prestigious awards in football and academia in a single calendar year.
Football Bio
May 5, 1941 – Pine River, Minnesota – Terry Baker, Oregon State quarterback from 1960–1962, was born.
The National Football Foundation credits Baker as the only athlete to win the Heisman, Maxwell, Scholar-Athlete, and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year awards in one year. In 1962, he also earned Liberty Bowl MVP with a 99-yard run, the game’s only score in a 6-0 win over Villanova. Baker entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
The Los Angeles Rams then picked him first in the college draft; he played three seasons for the Rams and one in the CFL.
Conclusion
Terry Baker stands alone in the record books as the most decorated single-season athlete in collegiate history. He swept the nation’s top honors in 1962, proving that elite athletic performance and academic excellence can exist in perfect harmony. His 99-yard dash in the Liberty Bowl serves as a permanent reminder of his explosive playmaking ability. Today, he remains the gold standard for every Oregon State Beaver and a foundational figure in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Heisman Trophy Winner: 1962 (The first winner from a school west of the Rockies).
- Maxwell Award Winner: 1962.
- Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1962.
- NFF National Scholar-Athlete of the Year: 1962.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1982.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1962.
- Liberty Bowl MVP: 1962 (Scored the game’s only touchdown on a record 99-yard run).
- AP & UPI Player of the Year: 1962.
- NFL First Overall Pick: Selected #1 by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1963 NFL Draft.
- Multisport Excellence: Led Oregon State to the NCAA basketball Final Four in 1963.
- NCAA Silver Anniversary Award: Received in 1988 for career achievement.