[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING STEPHEN BAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman 
Radanovich to congratulate Stephen Baker upon his induction into the 
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Baker will be honored at the 50th 
anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on 
Thursday, November 6, 2008.
  A sportswriter once said that Stephen Baker, at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, 
was built more for gymnastics than for football. But with his lightning 
quickness, sure hands and gritty toughness, the wide receiver earned 
one of the game's enduring nicknames--``the touchdown maker.'' He was 
given the catchy moniker at West Los Angeles College, where he scored 
31 touchdowns in two seasons, before starring at California State 
University Fresno for two seasons and playing six seasons with the New 
York Giants (1987-1992). With the Bulldogs, he was a frequent target of 
NCAA record-setting quarterback Kevin Sweeney, burning opponents for 
sixty-two receptions, an amazing 26.3 yards per catch and sixteen 
touchdowns over two seasons. He closed his collegiate career by 
catching a thirty-six yard scoring pass that gave the West All-Stars a 
victory in the Japan Bowl.
  Drafted in the third round by the New York Giants, Mr. Baker earned 
the respect of Coach Bill Parcels with his ability to elude defenders 
and hang onto the ball. Over the course of his NFL career, he lost just 
one fumble. He started fifty-three games for the Giants and finished 
his career with one hundred and forty-one receptions, an 18.3 yards-
per-catch average and twenty-one touchdowns. His best season was 1988, 
when he hauled in forty passes and scored seven times. The highlight of 
Baker's NFL career came in Superbowl XXV, as the Giants defeated the 
Buffalo Bills 20-19. He caught two passes--one of them a fourteen yard 
touchdown pass from Jeff Hostetler with just twenty-five seconds left 
in the first half to cut the Giants' deficit to 12-10.
  Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Stephen 
Baker upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall 
of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Baker 
congratulations on his many accomplishments.

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