Robert Hardy "Bake" Turner (born July 22, 1940) is a former American football player who played at the wide receiver position. He played collegiately at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University), then professionally for nine seasons. He was with the

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of the

American Football League The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. ...

, where in

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

he replaced Art Powell who had been traded to the

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. He was a member of the Jets' AFL and Super Bowl III teams after the 1968 Pro Football season, and also played for the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...

and

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of the National Football League.

College career

Turner played as a running back while playing for Texas Tech.

Freshman season

In 1959, Turner had 25 attempts for 86 yards and one touchdown. Receiving wise, Turner had 22 receptions for 444 yards, which averaged 20.2 yards per reception, the best in the NCAA. He also caught 3 touchdowns.

Sophomore season

Turner improved his rushing yard total to 36 attempts for 150 yards and one touchdown. However, he decreased his receiving yards, with only 9 receptions for 173 receiving yards.

Junior season

Turner, yet again, increased his total rushing yards for the season, with 41 attempts for 185 yards and one touchdown. He only had 3 receptions for 30 yards.

Statistics

Professional career

Turner forwent his senior season and entered the

1962 NFL Draft The 1962 National Football League draft was held on December 4, 1961 at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Washington Redskins used the first overall pick of the draft to select running back Ernie Davis, then subsequently traded him ...

, where he was drafted by the

in the 12th round (163rd overall).

Baltimore Colts

With the Colts, Turner was primarily used as a return specialist, with 504 kick return yards on 20 attempts and 95 punt return yards on 10 attempts. Turner rushed for 17 yards on 1 attempt. Turner received for 111 yards on one attempt, and one touchdown. However, those 111 yards came from two plays. In a game against the Bears, Lamar McHan completed a pass to

RC Owens Raleigh Climon Owens (November 12, 1934 – June 17, 2012) was a professional American football end and halfback from 1957 through 1964. Owens graduated from Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California, and attended the College of Ida ...

at the 40-yard line. Owens then lateralled the ball to Turner, who ran all the way to the 3-yard line. Owens was credited with the catch, and Turner had 0 receptions for 37 yards. In the final game of the season, Turner had a touchdown reception for 74 yards. Turner finished the season with an average of 111 yards per reception.

New York Jets

Turner spent most of his career with the

. In 1963, his first year with the team, Turner was selected to the AFL All-Star Game after catching 71 receptions for 1,009 yards, with 6 touchdowns. Turner received 14 kick returns for 299 yards, as well. Along with being an All-Star, Turner was selected as the team MVP. In 1964, Turner caught 58 passes for 974 yards and 9 touchdowns. In 1965, Turner caught 31 passes for 402 yards and 2 touchdowns and returned 18 kicks for 402 yards. In 1966, Turner caught 7 passes for 115 yards, returned 10 punts for 60 yards, and returned 2 kicks for 50 yards. In 1967, Turner caught only 3 passes for 40 yards and returned 4 kicks for 40 yards. In the Jets' Super Bowl-winning season in 1968, Turner caught 10 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns and returned 14 kicks for 319 yards. In Turner's final season as a Jet in 1969, Turner caught 11 passes for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns and returned 3 kicks for 74 yards.

Boston Patriots

After the 1969 season, Turner was traded to the

, where he spent one season. That season was a fairly successful one, with 28 receptions for 428 yards and 2 touchdowns. Turner retired after that season.