Team USA Jersey worn by Bill Baker of the U.S. Hockey Team during the 1980 Winter Olympics

This jersey was worn by defenseman Bill Baker (b.1956) as a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team. During that year's games, held in Lake Placid, New York, Baker and Team USA participated in one of the greatest sports upsets of all-time, defeating the Soviet Union in the medal round in the game now known as "The Miracle on Ice." Following that game, team USA attained the gold medal by defeating Finland. Baker was a stand-out player for the University of Minnesota prior to joining Team USA. Afterward he played professionally in the NHL for five seasons, spending time with the Canadiens, Rockies, Blues and Rangers.

The 1980 Winter Olympics, also known as the Games of the XIII Olympiad were held in Lake Placid, New York with 37 countries, 840 men and 232 women athletes participating. These Games are famous for the "Miracle on Ice" hockey team which consisted of American college hockey players competing against the more experienced and professional Russian team amongst the backdrop of the cold war. The Americans beat the Russians to move into the medal round beating Finland for the Gold but it was the game where they beat Russia which is most remembered and where announcer Al Michaels asked all American if they believed in miracles. US Speed skater Eric Heiden dominated the speed skating event winning gold in all five events, the only athlete in the Winter games to do so. The Soviet Union won the medal count with 22 with the United States coming in third with 12 medals.

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