The Legend will live on forever
Joe Baker died yesterday - but left a legacy that will live on forever

The use of the word 'Legend' is banded around by football fans all too often these days.  But wherever Hibernian play, wherever Hibs fans gather to talk football, there was always three names in particular that where revered, and more often than not the three men attached to these names will not have been far away, quietly chatting away with the fans who adored them.  Lawrie Reilly, Pat Stanton, Joe Baker.  Countless Hibs fans have met these three men who typify all that is great about Hibernian, as they mixed with fans at Easter Road and many other supporter gatherings, they put smiles back on faces and ignited memories that will forever be locked in the minds of those who had the privilege to see them play football as it should be played.

The news then yesterday that Joe had passed away came as a bitter blow for every Hibs fan.  Joe Baker was taking part in a celebrity golf tournament in Lanark when he suffered from a suspected Heart Attack, and later died at Wishaw hospital.  The news when it broke was like a knife through the heart of every fan, who perhaps immediately remembered Joe the supreme striker, the young 17-year-old perhaps who in 1958 ruined city rivals Hearts chances of a treble, scoring all four goals as Hibs knocked a superb Hearts side out of the Scottish Cup.  Some will remember Joe from his return to Easter Road in 1971, having enchanted fans of Torino, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest - to come back to the place he loved more than any other, and in typical fashion score the goal that clinched a victory for the Hibees.  Or perhaps fans will remember Joe Baker some twenty years later, stepping onto the hallowed turf during the rally to protest against Wallace Mercer's vile plans.  Baker brought the house down, dropping to his knees to kiss the turf and in so doing confirm what we already knew of course, Hibernian meant as much to Joe Baker as to any life-long supporter of the club.

I have to confess without a hint of shame that I shed more than a tear when told of Joe's death.  My own immediate memories were of the man I interviewed some 18 months ago, and whom I'd met many times at various Hibernian-related functions around the country.  I'm told I was at that 4-3 Hibernian victory, that I was also present when Joe scored a record 9 goals in one game against Peebles Rovers.  I certainly do remember being there when he returned to the club, but all of that was nothing compared to actually meeting the man, and the quick realisation that the legend earned his reputation on the park but greatly enhanced it off the park.  You could say that Joe Baker was a 'nice man', but these words just don't go far enough, not by a mile.  His smile immediately captured you, the aura that surrounded him may well have been in the imagination - but then it might not have been, all great men give you that feeling don't they?  His words would strike you into silence, the tales he had to tell of course were interesting enough but Joe seemed to deliver them in a style that matched the class he demonstrated on the football field.

Yes we are all too free with the term 'Legend', but nobody will ever dare deny that accolade to Joe.  The record books tell a story of course, 42 goals in a single season that remains a club record, and that at just 17-years-old; a grand total of 149 goals in just 4 campaigns before departing Hibs for Torino.  Yes the records show that Joe Baker was something special, and that is good - but as every fan who had the pleasure to meet Joe will tell you, not half as good as the reality, not half as good as meeting Joe.  The legend will indeed live on, Joe has left us with a legacy of memories that will never be permitted to simply fade away.  But above all else we will miss Joe Baker, there will always be an empty seat at Easter Road and with it an empty place in our heart.