Bobby Baldwin – WSOP Main Event Winner 1978

Bobby rose to fame with several tournament wins in the late seventies. His World Series of Poker win in 1978 made him the youngest winner in history, a feat soon erased when Stu Ungar won in 1980. Bobby won a total of 4 bracelets from 1977-1979.

In 1982 he became a consultant for the Golden Nugget casino, before being promoted to President in 1984. He has since headed The Mirage, the Bellagio hotel and casino and other subsidiaries of MGM Mirage under Steve Wynn. 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.

Bobby was inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame in 2003.

In addition to poker, Baldwin is also known as a world class billiards player.

Bobby’s winning WSOP hand: Qd Qs

Crandall Addington held 9-9, and the flop of Q-9-K gave both players trips. Crandall tried to slow play and just flatcalled, when Bobby raised Cradall moved all in, with Bobby quickly calling. The turn and river came A- 10 helping neither player and Bobby’s set of queens handed him the world championship.

In his own words:

…Before the first day of competition, I had lunch with Doyle Brunson, who, although he had never won this tournament, was considered by most to be the best no-limit player in the world.

“How do you think I’ll do?” I asked him.

“You’ll do OK,” Brunson said softly. Then as if inspired, he said, “How ’bout a friendly wager? Two thousand says I’ll last longer than you will.”

Worst bet I ever made. Doyle won the tournament.

Next year, Doyle greeted me as soon as I set foot in the Horseshoe Club. “Are we on?” he asked.

“On?”

He smiled broadly and, in his typically gentle manner, said, “Sure, for two thousand. We could make the same bet as last year.”

“No way!” I teased. “You’d have to spot me something.”

“All right. I’ll give you two-to-one.”

Second-worst bet I ever made. Doyle won the championship again!

The next year, I said, “Don’t even ask, Doyle. I’m not betting you this year, so you’ll just have to scrape up two grand somewhere else.”

Worst laydown I ever made. I won the title!

Career Highlights:

• 1977 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud $44,000
• 1977 $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw $80,000
• 1978 $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship $210,000
• 1979 $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw $90,000