C. David Baker has excelled in the one area that most accurately measures a commissioner’s success:  growth.

Under Baker’s leadership, the AFL has expanded from 14 teams to 18, migrated numerous teams from small- and medium-sized markets to larger ones, increased team values from $400,000 to nearly $20 million, entered into an innovative network-television agreement with NBC Sports, created a developmental league – arenafootball2 (af2) – and improved the quality and commitment of AFL ownership by incorporating numerous NFL, NBA and NHL owners. In January, Baker will guide the AFL through its 20th season, which will feature expansion teams in Utah and Kansas City.

In 2005, more than 1.7 million fans attended AFL games, averaging nearly 13,000 per game. AFL attendance has grown 41 percent since 2001.

Baker has also overseen an unprecedented era of corporate support for the AFL. Blue-chip brands such as Nike, Upper Deck, Champs Sports, U.S. Army and ADT Security are AFL partners. In 2006, EA Sports will produce their first-ever AFL video game.

On March 5, 2002, NBC Sports and the AFL jointly announced an industry changing multi-year broadcast partnership.  Beginning in 2003, NBC televised AFL regular-season games every Sunday, all postseason games and the ArenaBowl. In 2004, the AFL and NBC Sports extended their broadcast partnership through 2006. Fox Sports Net became an AFL broadcaster televising regional games in 2005 and will continue in 2006.

The quality of ownership in the AFL has grown dramatically during Baker’s tenure with many current owners operating other major-league teams, including eight NFL owners who operate current teams or the rights to future teams. The Nashville Kats, operated by Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams, took the field in 2005, and Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, assumed control of the Georgia Force. Celebrity owners such as Jon Bon Jovi (Philadelphia Soul), John Elway (Colorado Crush), Mike Ditka (Chicago Rush) and Tim McGraw (Nashville Kats) are equally committed to the AFL’s growth.

Baker was named the AFL’s fourth Commissioner in November of 1996, following one season as chairman of the AFL’s Board of Directors. His first order of business was to draft the League’s first-ever Mission Statement as well as the Fans’ Bill of Rights, each unprecedented in professional sports and taught annually at the AFL’s “Arena Football University.” The documents are also applied to and appended to all players, coaches and staff contracts. The Fans’ Bill of Rights, adopted by the AFL Board of Directors, is a list of 10 truths that the AFL holds to be self-evident.  Fans are within their rights to expect, among other things, a “wholesome environment” in which to take in an “affordable,” “total entertainment experience.”

It is fitting, perhaps, for this former 6-foot-9 power forward at the University of California-Irvine, whose roots began in Possum Trot, Mississippi, before stretching to California, that his physical size matches his vision as the biggest Commissioner in sports.

Following college at UC-Irvine from 1971-75 and two seasons playing pro basketball in Europe, Baker attended Pepperdine School of Law where he graduated with honors and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Baker, 52, is a former Mayor of Irvine, California and the proud father of two sons, Benjamin and Sam.