On March 30, 2007 National Football Events will honor, Jim Baker of Gloversville, New York and current commissioner of the New York Amateur Football League, as “Man of the Year.”  National Football Events will honor Mr. Baker in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Casino Bowl XII banquet.

Mr. Baker has a varied and interesting background in football and is one of the founders of the Harvest Bowl Tournament played in the Northeast for the last ten years. This is a prestigious yearly event in Semi-Pro football since the Northeast Region of the nation features many powerful teams.

Jim Baker has demonstrated excellence in many areas of football from playing the game, coaching, administration, and organization. Jim was born and raised in Schenectady, New York where he first began playing football. He played High School football at Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady and went from there to Service Football with the Amphibious Construction Battalion II (Seabees) in Norfolk, Virginia.  From there Jim went on to the Empire Football League and played for the Hudson Falls Greenjackets winning many personal honors and awards.

In 1972 Jim was one of the original organizers of the Albany Metro-Mallers Football Team. For two seasons in 1974 and 1975 Jim coached Pop Warner Football and led the Schenectady team to the Peach Bowl in Columbus Georgia which was the National Championship.

Jim concentrated on coaching and served an offensive coordinator and head coach while still organizing and administering teams and leagues. He has worn many hats over the last forty-five years in football and has a lifetime of accomplishments in so many areas.