Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 defensive pairings of all time

By Peter Panacy

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #89 Marcedes Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by #52 Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #89 Marcedes Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by #52 Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 04: A San Francisco 49ers logo remains in front of an empty section of seating inside Candlestick Park on February 4, 2015 in San Francisco, California. The demolition of Candlestick Park, the former home of the San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers, is underway and is expected to take 3 months to complete. A development with a mall and housing is planned for the site. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 04: A San Francisco 49ers logo remains in front of an empty section of seating inside Candlestick Park on February 4, 2015 in San Francisco, California. The demolition of Candlestick Park, the former home of the San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers, is underway and is expected to take 3 months to complete. A development with a mall and housing is planned for the site. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

No. 10: Safeties Dave Baker and Eddie Dove

We have to go all the way back to 1959, the year before the 49ers boasted a No. 1-ranked defense, to kick off our list of all-time great defensive pairings.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy a selection.

The Niners had quite the safety tandem between 1959 and 1961, comprised of defensive backs Dave Baker and Eddie Dove. Neither player lasted particularly long in their NFL careers, which is a reason why, perhaps, they’ve been lost among the annals of San Francisco history. Dove spent just five years in the league, the first four with the 49ers, while Baker only lasted those three seasons.

But, oh, the impact they had together.

Baker was a Pro Bowler in 1959, picking up five interceptions that year, while Dove added just one. But Dove wasn’t to be outdone the following two years, recording three in each season and riding his 1961 efforts to his own Pro Bowl.

Yet what puts this tandem safely on the list is Baker’s league-leading 10 interceptions during 1960.

That averages out to nearly one per game. Imagine that kind of production in today’s 16-game season.