Bobby Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker
player, off-road racer and casino
executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time.
Baldwin was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, and attended Oklahoma State University in 1970. He currently resides in Las Vegas.
Baldwin won his largest tournament prize in 1978 when he won the WSOP world championship event, earning the title and the $210,000 first prize. He defeated a final table that included professional poker players Ken Smith, Jesse Alto
, and Buck Buchanan, WSOP bracelet winner Louis Hunsucker, and businessman Crandall Addington, whom Baldwin defeated in heads-up play.
When Baldwin won the 1978 World Series of Poker
main event at age 28, he became the youngest winner in its history, to be superseded by Stu Ungar
in 1980, Phil Hellmuth
in 1989, Peter Eastgate
in 2008 and Joe Cada
in 2009.
In 1979, he won the $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event again, earning his fourth and most recent bracelet at the WSOP. Baldwin also competed in the Super Bowl of Poker
tournaments, organized by 1972 world champion Amarillo Slim
. Baldwin cashed in several SBOP events and won the $5,000 Seven Card Stud event in 1979.
His major wins include four WSOP bracelets, all won from 1977 to 1979. He won WSOP bracelets in three consecutive years (1977, 1978, and 1979) which only a small number of players have done in the history of the WSOP. In addition to his 1978 victory, Baldwin's other WSOP Main Event cashes are: 1981 (7th), 1986 (16th), 1987 (21st), 1991 (29th), 1992 (15th), 1994 (24th), and 2009 (352nd).
In 2003, Baldwin was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame
.
casino, and in 1984 was named the president. He was selected to head The Mirage
in 1987 and was named as the president of the Bellagio
hotel and casino in 1998.
In 1999-2000 he was also the Chief Financial Officer
of Mirage Resorts under Steve Wynn
; in 2000, upon the merger of Mirage Resorts and MGM Grand, he became the Chief Executive Officer
of the Mirage Resorts subsidiary of MGM Mirage
.
In 2005, after the acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group
by MGM Mirage, Baldwin became CEO and President of the announced Project City Center, while continuing his responsibilities as CEO of the Mirage Resorts subsidiary. Baldwin now oversees additional resorts added through the Mandalay Resort Group buyout as well as the previous Wynn properties.
player. Baldwin and his playing style are the subject of a book entitled Bobby Baldwin's Winning Poker Secrets, written by Mike Caro
. Baldwin has written many columns on poker and he authored a section for Doyle Brunson
's Super/System
. His own book Tales Out of Tulsa, a poker guide for novices, was published in 1985.
The high stakes signature poker room in the Bellagio
is named "Bobby's Room" after Baldwin.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $906,000. His 16 cashes at the WSOP account for $634,811 of those winnings.
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player, off-road racer and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time.
Baldwin was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, and attended Oklahoma State University in 1970. He currently resides in Las Vegas.
Poker career
Baldwin won his first two bracelets at the 1977 World Series of Poker, first winning the $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event, then winning the $5,000 Seven Card Stud event.Baldwin won his largest tournament prize in 1978 when he won the WSOP world championship event, earning the title and the $210,000 first prize. He defeated a final table that included professional poker players Ken Smith, Jesse Alto
Jesse Alto
Jesse Michael Alto , was an American poker player, best known for his numerous main event final table appearances at the World Series of Poker.Alto was a fixture at the World Series of Poker in the 1970s and 1980s...
, and Buck Buchanan, WSOP bracelet winner Louis Hunsucker, and businessman Crandall Addington, whom Baldwin defeated in heads-up play.
When Baldwin won the 1978 World Series of Poker
1978 World Series of Poker
The 1978 World Series of Poker was held in May 1978 at Binion's Horseshoe. and was the first WSOP that wasn't a winner-take-all prize.Instead the tournament had a progressive prize structure, as follows 50% for the Winner then 20% for second, 15% for third, 10% for fourth and 5% for fifth...
main event at age 28, he became the youngest winner in its history, to be superseded by Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar
Stuart Errol "Stu" Ungar was a professional poker and gin rummy player, widely regarded to have been the greatest Texas hold 'em and gin rummy player of all time....
in 1980, Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...
in 1989, Peter Eastgate
Peter Eastgate
Peter Eastgate is a poker player from Denmark, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2008 World Series of Poker. At the time, he became the youngest player ever to win the event. He was consequently surpassed by Joe Cada in 2009.-Early life:Eastgate was raised in Dalum, a suburb of...
in 2008 and Joe Cada
Joe Cada
Joseph "Joe" Cada is an American professional poker player from Shelby Charter Township, Michigan, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2009 World Series of Poker ....
in 2009.
In 1979, he won the $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event again, earning his fourth and most recent bracelet at the WSOP. Baldwin also competed in the Super Bowl of Poker
Super Bowl of Poker
The Super Bowl of Poker was the second most prestigious poker tournament in the world during the 1980s...
tournaments, organized by 1972 world champion Amarillo Slim
Amarillo Slim
Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. , known as Amarillo Slim, is an American professional gambler known for his poker skills and proposition bets...
. Baldwin cashed in several SBOP events and won the $5,000 Seven Card Stud event in 1979.
His major wins include four WSOP bracelets, all won from 1977 to 1979. He won WSOP bracelets in three consecutive years (1977, 1978, and 1979) which only a small number of players have done in the history of the WSOP. In addition to his 1978 victory, Baldwin's other WSOP Main Event cashes are: 1981 (7th), 1986 (16th), 1987 (21st), 1991 (29th), 1992 (15th), 1994 (24th), and 2009 (352nd).
In 2003, Baldwin was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame
Poker Hall of Fame
The Poker Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional poker playing in the United States. Founded and located in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was created in 1979 by Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, to preserve the names and legacies of the world's greatest poker players and to serve...
.
Career as casino executive
In 1982 he became a consultant for the Golden NuggetGolden Nugget Las Vegas
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is a luxury casino-hotel located in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Fremont Street Experience. The property is owned and operated by Landry's Restaurants....
casino, and in 1984 was named the president. He was selected to head The Mirage
The Mirage
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
in 1987 and was named as the president of the Bellagio
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
hotel and casino in 1998.
In 1999-2000 he was also the Chief Financial Officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of Mirage Resorts under Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (developer)
Stephen Alan "Steve" Wynn is an American business magnate who played a pivotal role in the 1990s resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip...
; in 2000, upon the merger of Mirage Resorts and MGM Grand, he became the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Mirage Resorts subsidiary of MGM Mirage
MGM Mirage
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
.
In 2005, after the acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group
Mandalay Resort Group
Mandalay Resort Group was a hotel-casino operator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its major properties included Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus, as well as half of the Monte Carlo. In terms of market capitalization, it was one of the largest casino operators in the world. It was...
by MGM Mirage, Baldwin became CEO and President of the announced Project City Center, while continuing his responsibilities as CEO of the Mirage Resorts subsidiary. Baldwin now oversees additional resorts added through the Mandalay Resort Group buyout as well as the previous Wynn properties.
Other interests
In addition to poker, Baldwin is also known as a world class billiardsBilliards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
player. Baldwin and his playing style are the subject of a book entitled Bobby Baldwin's Winning Poker Secrets, written by Mike Caro
Mike Caro
Mike A. Caro is a professional poker player, pioneer poker theorist, author of poker books, and casino executive.-Author:...
. Baldwin has written many columns on poker and he authored a section for Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson
Doyle F. Brunson is an American professional poker player who has played professionally for over 50 years. He is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several books on poker.Brunson is the first player to...
's Super/System
Super/System
Super/System is one of the first books about poker strategy. It was written and published in 1979 by Doyle Brunson, a professional poker player and multiple winner at the World Series of Poker.-History and title:...
. His own book Tales Out of Tulsa, a poker guide for novices, was published in 1985.
The high stakes signature poker room in the Bellagio
Bellagio
Bellagio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located on Lake Como. It has long been famous for its setting at the intersection of the three branches of the Y-shaped lake, which is also known as Lario....
is named "Bobby's Room" after Baldwin.
As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $906,000. His 16 cashes at the WSOP account for $634,811 of those winnings.
World Series of Poker bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 1977 World Series of Poker The 1977 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe.-Preliminary events:-Final table:... |
$10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw | $80,000 |
| 1977 | $5,000 Seven-Card Stud | $44,000 |
| 1978 1978 World Series of Poker The 1978 World Series of Poker was held in May 1978 at Binion's Horseshoe. and was the first WSOP that wasn't a winner-take-all prize.Instead the tournament had a progressive prize structure, as follows 50% for the Winner then 20% for second, 15% for third, 10% for fourth and 5% for fifth... |
$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $210,000 |
| 1979 1979 World Series of Poker The 1979 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 54 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Fowler was the first amateur to win the WSOP... |
$10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw | $90,000 |