Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed profile of Jim Baechtold:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: James Orr Baechtold
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on December 9, 1927 (Passed away on August 29, 2014, aged 86)
  • Hometown: McLeansboro, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 5 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: 10, 14
  • Position: Forward / Guard
  • High School: McLeansboro High School (McLeansboro, Illinois)
  • College: Eastern Kentucky University (1947–1952)
  • NBA Draft: 1952, 1st round, 2nd overall pick by the Baltimore Bullets
  • Teams Played For:
    • Baltimore Bullets (1952)
    • Milwaukee Hawks (1952–1956)
    • Fort Wayne Pistons (1956)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Information not widely documented
  • Siblings: Information not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Jim Baechtold’s player archetype was that of a mid-century two-way swing forward, a physical wing who could score within the flow of the offense while also handling tough matchups across the perimeter and forward line. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he had solid size and strength for his era, which suited him to a defensive role built on bodying up opponents and holding his own in a more rugged style of game. Offensively, he functioned as a complementary scorer and secondary ball-mover rather than a primary creator, with enough versatility to contribute as a forward-guard type and enough polish to post one of his best seasons with the Knicks in 1954-55. His overall play style looks best described as sturdy, adaptable, and team-oriented, blending scoring, utility, and positional flexibility in a way that made him a useful NBA rotation piece in the 1950s. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Jim Baechtold Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Eastern Kentucky University Athletics Hall of Fame — James Baechtold (2006) – Hall of Fame
Wikipedia — Jim Baechtold