Some successful poker players like to re-invest winnings back into their bankroll, some like to gamble with winnings, some like to party, and a few will save up their money. But rarely do players – or anyone for that matter – donate a large portion of their money towards a charitable cause.
But that’s exactly what noted poker pro Eric Baldwin decided to do when he donated $200,000 to his old baseball team at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The $200k that Baldwin donated will go towards renovating Prucha Field and adding new stadium lights to ensure that UW-Whitewater is able to host the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals.
And while the donation might seem extremely large, the amount of money is an afterthought to Baldwin who feels that UW-Whitewater’s baseball program fueled his poker success. Baldwin said, “I wouldn’t have had nearly the success I’ve had in poker if it weren’t for the Whitewater baseball program. The program has taught me so much in terms of hard work and preparation, and how it can pay off for you.”
Eric Baldwin was a right fielder and team captain of the 2005 UW-Whitewater team that won the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship. Baldwin’s senior year saw him carry a .356 batting average along with 13 homers and 70 RBI’s. Not long after his baseball career ended, Baldwin decided to move to Las Vegas and pursue poker professionally.
The move definitely paid off as Baldwin was named the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year in 2009 after winning 4 major tournaments. Baldwin’s biggest wins came in a WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event and the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic. The two victories combined to earn Baldwin over $750k, which comprised over half of Eric’s $1.5 million in 2009 tournament winnings. During his four-year poker career, Baldwin has earned over $3 million.
