| Ray Baartz | |
| Full Name: | Raymond Henry Baartz[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1947 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in |
| Position: | Striker |
| Youthyears1: | 1963 |
| Youthyears2: | 1963–1965 |
| Years1: | 1966–1974 |
| Clubs1: | Sydney Hakoah |
| Caps1: | 236 |
| Goals1: | 211 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1967–1974 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 48 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 18 |
| Pcupdate: | 25 August 2007 |
| Ntupdate: | 25 August 2007 |
Raymond Henry "Ray" Baartz (born 6 March 1947) is an Australian former soccer player who played as a forward. He represented Australia 48 times between 1967 and 1974, scoring 18 goals, making him the nation's eighth-highest goal scorer of all time.
Baartz was born in Newcastle, New South Wales and spent his early years playing for Adamstown. At 17 he joined Manchester United and after 6 months signed on a two-year contract. In 1966 he returned to Australia and transferred to Sydney Hakoah for a then Australian record of £5600. He played 236 club matches scoring 211 goals.
Baartz was selected in the Australian squad to play in the World Cup finals in 1974[2] but his career was prematurely ended after he was felled by a blow from Uruguay's Luis Garisto (known as el Loco (in English crazy)) in a friendly international fixture at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The blow to his throat had damaged his carotid artery.[3]
Ray currently still lives in Newcastle.
Baartz was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.[4]
Baartz Terrace in the Sydney suburb of Glenwood is named for him.[5]
On 5 December 2000, Baartz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to soccer.[6]
On 12 July 2012, Baartz was named in the Greatest ever Australian team.[7]