On February 2, 1933, the former heavy weight champion of the world arrived in Pensacola and changed trains at the L&N depot before departing for his destination. Baer was known in the ring for his devastating blows to his opponent. Two of his opponents died from the beating received by Baer. His first fatality was Frankie Campbell, hammered unconscious against the ropes on August 25, 1930. Medical examination revealed that his brain had been completely knocked loose from his skull. He died the next day having never regained consciousness. Baer was charged with the offense of manslaughter but later acquitted. However, the California State Boxing Commission banned Baer from fighting for a year. Baer donated his winnings from his future fights to Campbell's family even though he lost four out of his next six fights.
The second fatality occurred in 1932 when he fought Ernie Schaaf delivering a severe beating the fighter but winning the fight on points after the bell ended the bout with Schaaf lying flat on the canvas. Following the fight, Schaaf complained of frequent headaches but accepted a fight with Primo Carnera on February 11, 1932. During the fight Schaaf took a hard blow and died in the ring. Medical reports surfaced indicating that Schaaf had been suffering from meningitis.
On June 8, 1933, Baer fought and defeated by points the German heavyweight and former world champion Max Schmeling, Adolf Hitler's favorite fighter. Again on June 14, 1934, he met and defeated the reigning world champion Primo Carnera of Italy, a giant of a man at 267 pounds. The fight was stopped by the referee in the eleventh round to save Carnera from the heaving beating Baer was delivering.
One year later, he entered the ring with James J. Braddock on June 13, 1935 and went down to the greatest upset in boxing history. A washed-out boxer, Braddock was called the Cinderella Man. The crowd heavily favored Braddock especially with Baer’s history of two fatalities in the ring. Braddock was claimed the victor in a unanimous decision.
Baer would pass away on November 18, 1959 even though his name would live on his son Max Baer Jr., who played the character Jethro on the television show "Beverly Hillbillies." He was buried in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sacramento, CA.
The bout was made famous by the 2005 release of the movie “Cinderella Man” starring Russell Crowe as Braddock and Rene Zellwieer as his wife.
Max Baer Sr., Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World
Max Baer Jr., actor "Beverly Hillbillies"
James J. Braddock connect to the jaw of Max Baer Sr. in 1935
