Joe Baumgartner

Though his office was on the dirt in an arena full of people, Joe Baumgartner’s job was to be invisible. One of the best bullfighters in PBR history, Baumgartner’s modus operandi was to stay out of the way for as long as possible. His reasoning? If a bull spots bullfighters too early, some will come after them during the ride. So he would stay off to the side, making himself small until the ride was over. And even when the ride was over and it was time for Baumgartner to step in, he wanted to be in and out. Sneak in, get the bull out, help the rider up. Baumgartner retired in 2011 after 23 years of bullfighting, 18 consecutive PBR World Finals and 14 National Finals Rodeo appearances. He fought tens of thousands of bulls – he’s estimated to have fought 6,000 bulls in Las Vegas alone – and won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bullfighter of the Year Award from 2004-2007. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2013.