Perry Baker facts for kids
Baker in 2014
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | June 29, 1986 (age 38) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | New Smyrna Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Spruce Creek High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Fairmont State University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Perry Baker, born on June 29, 1986, is a famous American rugby player. He used to play for the United States national rugby sevens team. Perry is known for being one of the best rugby sevens players ever. He won the "World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year" award twice! When he retired, Perry had scored 293 tries. This made him the top American player and second best in the world for tries. He also scored 1,467 points, placing him 7th all-time.
Perry Baker's Early Sports Career
Playing College Football
Perry Baker played college football for Fairmont State University. This university is located in West Virginia. He earned his degree in Criminal Justice in 2010.
Time in the NFL and Arena Football
In July 2011, Perry was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a team in the National Football League (NFL). Sadly, a knee injury ended his NFL dream early.
After that, Perry played two seasons of Arena Football. He played for the Pittsburgh Power from 2012 to 2013.
Perry Baker's Rugby Journey
Starting Out in Rugby
Perry first learned about rugby in 2006. One of his old high school football coaches introduced him to the sport. In 2012, he played with the Daytona Beach Coconuts team. He helped them finish ninth at a national tournament.
In 2013, Perry decided to play rugby full-time. He joined the Tiger Rugby Academy in Ohio. There, he trained under coach Paul Holmes.
Joining the U.S. National Team
In July 2014, Perry signed a contract with the United States national rugby sevens team. They are also called the U.S. Eagles. This meant he would train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. It is located in San Diego, California.
First Games and Big Wins (2014–2016)
Perry played his first game at the 2014 Gold Coast Sevens in Australia. He came into the game against Canada as a substitute. His first start and first try happened in the third game against Argentina. He even scored three tries in one game against Portugal!
Perry helped the U.S. team beat New Zealand for the first time ever. He scored both tries in their 14–12 win at the 2015 Dubai Sevens. During the 2015-16 season, Perry scored 48 tries. This was a new record for a U.S. player. He was second in the world for tries that season. He also earned a spot on the World Rugby dream team.
Perry was part of the U.S. men's rugby team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He scored a try in a game against Fiji. However, the team did not make it past the first round.
Becoming a Star Player (2016–2020)
Perry had an amazing 2016–17 season. He was even named captain for a tournament when the regular captain was away. At the 2017 Singapore Sevens, Perry ran 100 meters to score a try against Wales. This was voted one of the best tries of the tournament! He also set up another great try against Scotland.
At the 2017 Paris Sevens, Perry scored another incredible try. He finished the 2016-17 World Series with 57 tries. This was more than any other player! Because of his great performance, he was named to the 2017 World Series Dream Team. He also won the 2017 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award. This is a huge honor in rugby.
Perry started the 2017–18 season slowly due to an injury. But he was a key player in the U.S. team's first win on home soil. This happened at the 2018 USA Sevens. He scored all three tries in a big win against England. In the semifinal, he scored two tries to help the U.S. come back and win. In the final, he scored the first try in their 28–0 victory. Perry was leading all players in tries that season. However, a shoulder injury made him miss the last few tournaments.
Perry had a quieter 2018–19 season because of injuries.
On February 29, 2020, Perry made history. He became the second U.S. player to score 200 tries. He achieved this in a game against Scotland in Los Angeles.
Playing at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Perry Baker played at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He was the team's top scorer in the first round. He scored four tries in a win against Uruguay national rugby sevens team. This win helped the U.S. team reach the quarterfinals for the first time. Perry led all players at the Paris Olympics with six tries. He also tied for the most points scored with 30.
Retirement from Rugby
In March 2024, Perry Baker announced his retirement. He decided to retire after playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Perry Baker's Family
Perry's older brother, Dallas Baker, is also a professional athlete. He played National Football League, Arena Football League, and Canadian Football League football.
Perry is also the nephew of Wes Chandler. Wes was a former NFL player and coach.
