Eagle Tackle Heller Sues Baker, Vikings for Eye Injury in 1988

The Minnesota Vikings and former Viking player Al (Bubba) Baker were sued Friday by Philadelphia Eagle offensive tackle Ron Heller over an eye injury Heller suffered during a game in 1988.

Harry Sieben Jr., a Minneapolis attorney who filed the suit in Hennepin County District Court, said the case involves “gross negligence, aggravated conduct and reckless disregard of the rights of another person.”

Sieben alleged the Vikings were negligent in supervising and training Baker.

The suit, which seeks in excess of $50,000, alleges Baker poked Heller in the eye in an altercation in the second quarter of a Sept. 25, 1988 game, causing permanent injury to Heller’s left cornea. Heller was hospitalized for five days, but was able to play the rest of the 1988 season and was a regular this season.

Baker, now with the Cleveland Browns, was served papers at his home in Westlake, Ohio.