Steve Baccaro graduated from Berlin High in 1947 where he was a four-year letterman in baseball, basketball, and football. He was the captain of the football team his senior year. During his senior year the team set a new record winning five games while losing only two under new coach Bill Gibney. Steve was the first recipient of the Richard Patterson Award which is awarded in the memory of Richard E. Patterson, who was the first graduate of Berlin High School to have sacrificed his life in the second world war and takes into consideration outstanding ability in the field of sports, good scholarship, good sportsmanship on and off the field, and has been a credit to Berlin High School. Steve was also the Class Treasurer in his senior year.

After high school Steve played for New Britain Machine in the Industrial League and the Berlin Mohawks in the Berlin town league. He also played golf for New Britain Machine and was a member of the K of C bowling league. Steve married his high school sweetheart Louise Sokolowski who was a member of the cheerleading squad while Steve was playing.