Although Bernhard Hugh was the predominant cartoonist on the front cover of the Chelsea Chronicle between 1910 and 1936, for a brief period during the 1920’s, the task was undertaken by Charles Shaw Baker.
Baker played first class cricket for Warwickshire between 1905 and 1920 and apart from being a middle order left handed batsman, he was also an infrequent legbreak and googly bowler as well as a stand in wicketkeeper.
After retiring from cricket he became a cartoonist for the Daily Mail and it was 27th August 1923 when he drew the cartoon for the cover of the Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur programme. 35,000 spectators saw the visitors win 1-0. The absence of Bernhard Hugh is unexplained, but Charles Shaw Baker occupied the seat until the end of the 1927-28 season, his final drawing being on the cover of the Chelsea v Barnsley programme on 5th May 1928.
Chelsea lost the game 2-1 with the goal coming from George Biswell in front of a 23,000 gate. Baker favoured a cartoon strip style compared to the single feature of Bernhard Hugh, but he did influence Hugh as we will see in the next part.
Charles Shaw Baker retired to Cornwall in 1925 where he played minor counties cricket. He died in 1976 aged 93, an excellent innings on his part.
By Paul Waterhouse, Bygone Chelsea 1905-99
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