Baird played for Derby County for three seasons, from 1950 to 1953. He made his debut for the club in 1950 and went on to make 104 appearances, scoring 32 goals. He was part of the team that won the Second Division title in 1952-53. Baird left Derby County in 1953 to join Portsmouth.
Unveiling Northern Ireland's Football Legend: The Chris Baird Challenge