When others say NO: You say YES!! They came through in a real time of need! In 1986, Baylor was hired by the Los Angeles Clippers as the team's vice president of basketball operations. 17, Elgin Baylor.. No. Renowned for his acrobatic maneuvers on the court, Baylor regularly dazzled Lakers fans with his trademark hanging jump shots. All we needed was a small loan to fix our car and Omni came through. [5] The next season, Baylor averaged 32.5 points per game and led the Seattle University Chieftains (now known as the Redhawks) to the NCAA championship game, Seattle's only trip to the Final Four, falling to the Kentucky Wildcats. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA draft to select Baylor, then convinced him to skip his senior year at SU and instead join the pro ranks. [2], Baylor spent 22 years as general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers. [20] Baylor's remaining claims were rejected by a Los Angeles state court jury on March 30, 2011, by a unanimous 12–0 vote. [4] The Minneapolis Lakers drafted him in the 14th round of the 1956 NBA Draft, but Baylor opted to stay in school instead. (What? Baylor, a United States Army Reservist, was called to active duty during the 1961–62 season, and being stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington, he could play for the Lakers only when on a weekend pass. [10] During his career, Baylor helped lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals seven more times. While other men enlisted used their weekend passes to go back home or party, Elgin Baylor was driving to NBA games and averaged 38 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists in the 48 games he played. His was a career of hardship just like Bill or Wilt, and just like the other legends of the ‘60s, he changed the game of basketball forever. He put D.C. on the map.” A few hours after Harris and Chamberlain hit D.C., the shiny Olds, with its top down, pulled over on 49th Street NE, beneath the fenced-in court on the hill at Kelly Miller playground. It was during the Second World War that all civilian work was stopped and Elgin made military watches, chronometers for the U.S. Navy, fuses for artillery shells, altimeters and instruments for aircraft and sapphire bearings used in the aiming of cannon. Despite the Great Depression, Hollywood and popular film production flourished. After one season, the school dismissed the head basketball coach and restricted the scholarships. Elgin Baylor, best known for being a Basketball Player, was born in Washington D.C, United States on Sunday, September 16, 1934. Sports Heroes Who Served is a series that highlights the accomplishments of athletes who served in the U.S. military. Baylor, while still a very powerful force, was never quite the same, never again averaging above 30 points per game. He was named to the NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980 and the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. in 2009, SLAM Magazine ranked him number 11 among its Top 50 NBA players of all time. Following his junior season, Baylor was drafted again by the Minneapolis Lakers with the No. A statue was unveiled in his honor prior to the event. Thanks.". ", "Thank God for a company like yours! This arrangement cost Baylor 3rd place on the all-time scorers’ list. The No. They also won only one playoff series during this time. ELGIN BAYLOR played thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Minnesota/Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight NBA finals. He led the NCAA in rebounds during the 1956–57 season. His popularity led to appearances on the television series Rowan and Martin's Laugh In in 1968, the Jackson Five's first TV special in 1971 and a Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode, "Olympiad". The 61 points he scored in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 1962 is still an NBA Finals record. ELGIN BAYLOR played thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Minnesota/Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight NBA finals. During his tenure, the Clippers managed only two winning seasons and amassed a win-loss record of 607 and 1153. Thank you. Samuel Jones (born June 24, 1933) is an American former professional basketball player and shooting guard.During his playing career, he was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA playoffs.He has the second most NBA championships of any player (10), behind his teammate Bill Russell (11). 1961 — Elgin Baylor of Los Angeles scores 57 points to lead the Lakers over the Detroit Pistons 129-106. He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in 2006 before being relieved of his duties shortly before the 2008–09 season began.[3]. The year prior to Baylor's arrival, the Lakers finished 19–53 with a squad that was slow, bulky and aging. He is often listed as the greatest NBA player never to win a championship.[15][16][17]. They helped me when no one else would. Baylor, whom the Lakers signed to play for $20,000 per year (equivalent to $180,000 in 2019), was the franchise's last shot at survival. Bill Sharman. Thus began the greatest rivalry in the history of the NBA. Baylor won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and led the Lakers from last place the previous year to the NBA finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in the first four-game sweep in finals history. Renowned for his acrobatic maneuvers on the court, Baylor regularly dazzled Lakers fans with his trademark hanging jump shots. 1 pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, and this time he opted to leave school to join them for the 1958–59 NBA season. Radio was the main source of entertainment, information, and political propaganda, and jazz, blues, gospel, and folk music, became immensely popular. By Mele Mathieson - Posted on June 26, 2014. On February 3, 1954, in a game against his old Phelps team, he scored 31 in the first half. Notice: The entity operating in the State of Washington is Omni Financial of Nevada, Inc., DBA Omni Financial, NMLS Consumer Access Unique Identifier: 1657851. A Seattle car dealer interested Baylor in Seattle University, and Baylor sat out a year to play for Westside Ford, an AAU team in Seattle, while establishing eligibility at Seattle. He stayed in that capacity for 22 years before reportedly[18] resigning in October 2008 at the age of 74. The first biography of Elgin Baylor was written by SLAM Online contributor Bijan C. Bayne, and published by Rowman and Littlefield. The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security. [6], Fifty-one years after Baylor left Seattle University, they named its basketball court in honor of him on November 19, 2009. Elgin Baylor – Hall of Fame inductee Elgin Baylor played for Seattle University averaging over 31 points per game. An inadequate scholastic record kept him out of college until a friend arranged a scholarship at the College of Idaho, where he was expected to play basketball and football. If they could help me with a loan, they can help anyone! Likewise, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor was named after the Elgin National Watch Company. Baylor finally retired nine games into the 1971–72 season because of his nagging knee problems. According to Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short in a 1971 interview with the Los Angeles Times: "If he had turned me down then, I would have been out of business. Baylor learned how to carry his load well. Baylor reappeared for the 1954 season playing for the newly-opened Spingarn High School, and the 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 190 lb (86 kg) senior was named first-team All-Met and won the SSA's Livingstone Trophy as the area's best basketball player for 1954. Elgin Baylor - Greatest College Basketball Players The Clippers Years: What happened? Despite playing only 48 games during the 1961–62 season, he still managed to score over 1,800 points. During his two All-City years at Phelps, he averaged 18.5 and 27.6 points per season. ", "Omni was excellent. And you are not stingy either. Along with being a world-class basketball player, Baylor was a U.S. Army Reservist. 17: Elgin Baylor", "10 Best Historical Rivalries in the NBA", "Top 10 Teams In NBA History: 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers", "67 Years of Height Evolution in the NBA - In-depth Research", "The 10 Greatest NBA Players With No Championship Jewelry", "The Greatest NBA Player To Never Win A Title Is Auctioning Off His Championship Ring. He alleged that he was underpaid during his tenure with the team and then fired because of his age and race. #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Elgin Baylor Posted on Monday, February 17, 2020 11:30 am February 10, 2020 Posted in Veteran of the Day by VAntage Point Contributor 1k views Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Elgin Baylor, who served as a Reservist while also playing basketball for … D. Held Out. Baylor's amazing feat doing this off military duty doesn't change his play Oscar's league best playmaking gives him an element Baylor lacks. Elgin "Rabbit" Baylor had two basketball-playing brothers, Sal and Kermit. ", "I appreciate Omni so much. A #1 draft pick, NBA Rookie of the Year, and eleven-time NBA All-Star who was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times, Elgin is considered one of the game's all-time greatest players. Elgin Baylor played basketball from 1958 to 1971 as small forward for the Minneapolis Lakers and, when the team moved to Southern California in 1960, the Los Angeles Lakers. A 10-time All-NBA First Team selection and 11-time NBA All-Star, Baylor was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. Elgin Baylor was born in 1934 in Washington, D.C., and was named for his father’s favorite watch. Included is a note from Lawrence F. O’Brien, special assistant to the president. NBA Hall of Fame forward who played for the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers from 1958 to 1971; named to 11 NBA All-Star games and had his #22 jersey retired by the Lakers. Sketches include Cocktail Party, Sonny and Seal, Paul dummy disaster, Paul Revere, Military News Song, News of the past, present, and future, Leprechaun interview, Undertaker production, Maude's world of the hereafter, and Fortune teller. "I say without reservation that Elgin Baylor is the greatest cornerman who ever played pro basketball," former Lakers coach Bill Sharman told The Times in 1971. "I appreciated the fast response to my application for the loans and the professionalism of the representatives. In 1974, Baylor was hired to be an assistant coach and later the head coach for the New Orleans Jazz, but had a lackluster 86–135 record and retired following the 1978–79 season. Military Service. Elgin Baylor played basketball from 1958 to 1971 as small forward for the Minneapolis Lakers and, when the team moved to Southern California in 1960, the Los Angeles Lakers. Elgin played his first two years at Phelps Vocational High School in the 1951 and 1952 seasons where he set his first area scoring record of 44 points vs. Cardozo. As basketball’s top prospects gear up for the NBA draft on June 26, we decided to take a look back at some NBA players who did more than excel on the court – they served in the United States military as well. Later that season, in a Game Five NBA Finals victory against the Boston Celtics, Baylor grabbed 22 rebounds and set the still-standing NBA record for points in an NBA Finals game with 61. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight NBA Finals. During the 1956–57 season, Baylor averaged 29.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game for Seattle. No official military endorsement of our military loans is implied on this website. Bio. A #1 draft pick, NBA Rookie of the Year, and eleven-time NBA All-Star who was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times, Elgin is considered one of the game's all-time greatest players. Over three collegiate seasons, one at College of Idaho and two at Seattle, Baylor averaged 31.3 points per game and 19.5 rebounds per game. Sixty years ago, on April 12, 1960, Minneapolis Lakers’ star Elgin Baylor and his teammates came to Fergus Falls to play a group of local all-stars in a benefit basketball His signature running bank shot, which he was able to release quickly and effectively over taller players, led him to numerous NBA scoring records, several of which still stand. 1934) was a small forward famed for his acrobatic maneuvers and his jump shot. After stints at Southwest Boys Club and Brown Jr. High, Baylor was a three-time All-City player in High School. Baylor was the last of the great undersized forwards in a league where many guards are now his size or bigger. Baylor now had to contend with balancing basketball and active military duty. Omni is open for business during the health crisis ... http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bernard_james/, Special Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day, Understanding Active-Duty Military and the Branch Services, Our articles featuring financial tips, military discount information and more. As a rookie in 1958–59, Baylor finished second in the league in scoring (24.9 points per game), third in rebounding (15.0 rebounds per game), and eighth in assists (4.1 assists per game). The 1930s were called the Great Depression (1929-1939). They live up to the motto 'We Love to Say Yes!' Baylor was already there. With his superb athletic talents and all-round game, Baylor was seen as the kind of player who could save a franchise, and he did. Harper’s magazine summed their sentiment perfectly: “It was the genuine, audacious, self-reliant Western spirit.” Elgin Baylor (b. A. Jerry West. He was stationed in Washington state and needed a weekend pass to be able to play for the Lakers. C. Charles Barkley. That year the Clippers won their first playoff series since 1976, when the franchise was located in Buffalo, New York, and named the Buffalo Braves. 1. Elgin Baylor (b. [14] He finished his playing days with 23,149 points, 3,650 assists and 11,463 rebounds over 846 games. Baylor has better rebounding but it doesn't come close to the impact of Oscar's passing to me. It’s funny how things worked out. Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. Elgin National Watch Company In the spring of 1864 half a dozen ambitious Chicago businessmen decided that if Massachusetts could build a factory that built watches – Illinois could, too. F. Kennedy” in black ink. Before his senior season the forward was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers and is credited for turning the struggling club franchise around thanks to his outstanding rookie performance that helped bring the team to the NBA Finals. 4. Who said, "I say without reservation that Elgin Baylor is the greatest corner man who ever played pro basketball"? ", "Omni approved us when our own credit union turned us down. 1 draft pick in 1958, NBA … Clarence was born in McDade, Texas on November 22, 1924 to Gracie Lee Dunbar Huff and Thomas Levi Huff. Then Elgin Baylor came out and we all heard about it. B. Clarence grew up at the Brick Yard. He says he was fired unfairly and filed a wrongful-termination suit against the team, naming Donald Sterling directly in his complaint. But Jerry West gets all the credit, despite Baylor being clearly superior during their early 60s runs. On November 15 of the 1960–61 season, Baylor set a new NBA scoring record when he scored 71 points in a victory against the New York Knicks, while also grabbing 25 rebounds. 1 draft pick in 1958, NBA Rookie of the Year in 1959, 11-time NBA All-Star, and a 10-time member of the All-NBA first team, he is regarded as one of the game's all-time greatest players. On April 6, 2018, Baylor appeared at Staples Center as a VIP guest during the Lakers vs. Timberwolves game. Elgin Baylor is seen playing basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1967. Elgin … Elgin Baylor was an army reservist who got called to duty during the 1961-62 season. O’Brien wrote to a congressman on April 3, 1962, to notify him that the cartoon was received and the president will sign it for Baylor. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight NBA Finals. Elgin Baylor played basketball from 1958 to 1971 as small forward for the Minneapolis Lakers and, when the team moved to Southern California in 1960, the Los Angeles Lakers. Sports Heroes Who Served is a series that highlights the accomplishments of athletes who served in the U.S. military. The No. Discover what happened on this day. He finished with a 36.1 average for his eight Interhigh Division II league games. elgin baylor career numbers played 48 games in 1961-62 while serving on active duty for the army reserve and still scored 1,836 points (38.8 points per game) Elgin Baylor played for the Los Angeles Lakers and served in the Army — during the week he was a soldier, during the weekend he would fly or drive to the location of the basketball game. [21], American basketball player, coach, executive, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 60 or more points in a game, "NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor returns to Caldwell for induction to College of Idaho Hall of Fame", "Greatest sports figures in L.A. history, No. In February 2009, Baylor filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Clippers, team owner Donald Sterling, team president Andy Roeser, and the NBA. D. Larry Bird. Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He did not perform well academically and dropped out of school (1952–53) to work in a furniture store and play basketball in the local recreational leagues. The Redhawks also host the annual Elgin Baylor Classic. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest about: Yes please, I want to hear the latest from Omni. With Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Joey Bishop, Pamela Austin. ELGIN BAYLOR Shown as a young player in Lakers uniform, crouched with a basketball Photograph signed: "Elgin Baylor".Color, 8x10. [19] Baylor later dropped the racial discrimination claims in the suit. An underrated rebounder, Baylor averaged 13.5 rebounds per game during his career, including a remarkable 19.8 rebounds per game during the 1960–61 season—a season average exceeded by only five other players in NBA history, all of whom were 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) or taller. Known for his signature running bank shot, Baylor's knack for mid-air acrobatics made him one of the most difficult players to defend against. Baylor began to be hampered by knee problems during the 1963–64 season. The club would have gone bankrupt."[8]. The Minneapolis Lakers used the No. He was called up to active duty during the 1961-62 season, and was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. Clarence Baylor Huff, 96, of Elgin, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 2, 2020. The team, several years removed from its glory days of George Mikan, was in trouble on the court and at the gate. 17, Elgin Baylor (no first-place votes, 689 points) One of the greatest and most exciting players in NBA history, Baylor was a human highlight reel who became the first star basketball player to compete in Los Angeles. Baylor was a gifted shooter, strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer. The timing of his retirement caused him to miss two great achievements—the Lakers' next game after his retirement was the first of an NBA-record 33 consecutive wins,[12] and then the Lakers went on to win the NBA championship that season. The Lakers awarded Baylor a 1972 Championship Ring even though he had retired earlier.[13]. Elgin Baylor was born in 1930s. In June 2017, The College of Idaho had Baylor as one of the inaugural inductees into the school's Hall of Fame.[7]. Continuing our countdown of the 20 greatest figures in L.A. sports history with No. This broke the point record of 52 that Western's Jim Wexler had set the year before when he broke Rabbit's record of 44. elgin baylor - career numbers. NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor was named after the Elgin National Watch Company. 5. For more than two decades, he was the General Manager of the L.A. Clippers. )", "Wisch: Top 5 Players To Never Win An NBA Title « CBS Chicago", "Elgin Baylor and His Lawsuit Against the Clippers", Elgin Baylor Sues Los Angeles Clippers for Employment Discrimination, "Elgin Baylor drops racial discrimination claim in suit against L.A. Clippers", "Elgin Baylor's lawsuit rejected by Los Angeles County jury", "James Harden moves past Elgin Baylor for fourth-most 40-point games in NBA history", NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, 1957 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1958 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, National Basketball Association's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elgin_Baylor&oldid=1003218727, African-American sports executives and administrators, All-American college men's basketball players, Amateur Athletic Union men's basketball players, American sports executives and administrators, Basketball players at the 1958 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four, College basketball announcers in the United States, College of Idaho Coyotes men's basketball players, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association broadcasters, National Basketball Association general managers, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Seattle Redhawks men's basketball players, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 27 January 2021, at 23:47. All loans subject to approval. It was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world. There was a time in our country’s history when young men possessed a strong since of duty and obligation to their serve their country, especially in [1] In 1977, Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. ©2021 Omni Financial. 1934) was a small forward famed for his acrobatic maneuvers and his jump shot. Playing with four fouls the entire second half, Baylor scored 32 more points to establish a new DC-area record with 63 points. Baylor was eligible for military service and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The problems culminated in a severe knee injury suffered during the 1965 Western Division playoffs. The Redhawks now play on the Elgin Baylor Court in Seattle's KeyArena. euroleague wrote:Elgin Baylor led the league in PER during Wilt’s prime, and was the only player to top Wilt.He took multiple teams singlehandedly to the Finals, showing his game is suitable for tougher competition. Elgin-branded watches produced after 1968 have no connection to the Elgin Watch Company. Elgin never found the appreciation and recognition that his counterparts found in retirement. [11] In doing so, Baylor had broken his own NBA record of 64 points that he had set in the previous season. [9] He registered 55 points in a single game, then the third-highest mark in league history behind Joe Fulks' 63 and Mikan's 61. Baylor was a gifted shooter, strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer. Elgin Baylor is an 11-time NBA All Star and a Basketball Hall of Famer. The city of Elgin, North Dakota derives its name from the watch brand. What was the highest point total NBA great Elgin Baylor … ELGIN BAYLOR 16x20 photo of Baylor in Lakers uniform, on the court against the Celtics Photograph signed: "Elgin Baylor".Color, 16x20. Directed by Gordon Wiles.