You can go home again. Claude Hines (February 14, 1909-April 7, 1985), a four-sport athlete from Baker City did just that after taking his talents to the college level and serving his country.
“Claudie,” starred at Baker High School from 1925-28 in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was a four-year letter winner in the team sports and the most valuable player of the undefeated 1926 football team. He also played on a basketball squad that advanced to the state tournament and was voted president of the senior class. He is believed to have been the first black athlete at Baker High and only the second to play college athletics in the state.
Hines was a popular young person in town. At age 13, he announced lineups at local baseball games through a megaphone.
Claude turned down a football scholarship to the University of Hawaii and chose to attend Southern Oregon Normal School, (now Southern Oregon University) He was the first black athlete at the school, where he starred in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field from 1929-32. On the football team, he played defensive end and halfback and was selected as team captain in 1930. The team's combined record for those seasons was 12-7-4. The basketball teams were known as the "Siskiyous" and future UO coaching legend Howard Hobson ran the program during Hines' senior year.
Hines served in US Army during WWII, the returned to Baker City where he spent the remainder of his life mentoring young people and coaching at the YMCA while working in the timber business. Some of those kids went on to play for Oregon and OSU teams. He is remembered in his hometown as a gentle soul, loved by all.
Claude Hines was selected to the Southern Oregon University Hall of Fame in 1992. He is one two alums honored with plaques at Baker Bulldog Stadium.