Bob Baird has been involved in women's fastpitch softball for the past 54 years in a variety of capacities- fan, sports writer, umpire, high school and college assistant coach, high school and college head coach, and finally, general manager. Throughout his lengthy softball career there is one common thread, his association with the Stratford Brakettes, the world's most famous women's softball team.

In 1967 he covered his first Brakettes game as sports editor of the Stratford News, a weekly paper. His love affair with the Brakettes continued throughout a 20-year career at the Bridgeport Post-Telegram, where he covered them in 15 National ASA tournaments, two World championships, and numerous US Olympic Sports Festivals and international events. Prior to the 1988 season he became the team's general manager, a position he continues to hold today in his 34th year as the chief decision-maker.

“This has been a fantastic ride,” said Baird, who along with best friend and Field Manager John Stratton have survived several brushes with extinction and continue to operate the program without a major sponsor. “It hasn't been without some tough decisions that had to be made.” They include moving out of iconic Raybestos Memorial Field in 1988, opting to take up residence in Avco Lycoming Field (now Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field) on south Main Street and choosing not to participate in the Women's Major ASA National Championship in 2009, which ultimately led to its demise that year and going forward. "Now we have had to face the uncertainty of playing our 75th consecutive season as COVID-19 continues.”

With the goal of making the entire Brakettes experience family friendly, Baird and Stratton have always admitted youth softball players and their teams into home games free of charge. In 2009 they founded the Women's Major Softball National Championship tournament, which has replaced the ASA event as the season-ending softball destination. And in 2019 Baird was the architect of adding the Junior Brakettes to the Brakettes Softball Family. The 2021 season will see the debut of their third team, the 18U Select Brakettes.

Baird compiled a 105-30 record during his four-year tenure at Bridgeport's Housatonic Community College, including a 1980 New England JUCO title and berth in the World Series. He spent two years as assistant coach at Sacred Heart University. During his tenure at St. Joseph High in Trumbull, he led the Cadets to three league titles and a 67-25 record and was New York Daily News “Coach of the Year.” He concluded his coaching career at Stratford High, his alma mater, where also taught Civics and served as its athletic director for 20 years. In 2004 he led the Red Devils to the state semifinals with a 20-6 record, still the best mark in school history. Baird also was the athletic director at the University of Bridgeport, where he had earned his bachelor's and master's degrees.

Bob and his wife of 50 years Diana Joy have six children, all of whom have worked at different jobs at DeLuca Field, and 13 grandchildren. His son Rob is the Assistant General Manager, Media Director, and President of Brakettes, Inc. He has been handling the team's play-by-play since the 2006 Connecticut Brakettes debut in the National Pro Fastpitch League.