Eric "basebaldy" Baldwin, after a 2009 that netted him over $1.5 million in live tournament earnings, was able to end his profitable year with two major coups, first earning Player of the Year honors from CardPlayer Magazine, than landing a lucrative sponsorship agreement with UB, joining a team that already holds such well known pros as Phil Hellmuth, Bryan "Devo" Devonshire and PokerRoad's Joe Sebok.

"Eric Baldwin isn't just a new UB pro, he is UB," stated Annie Duke, UB.com's Cardroom Consultant. "Eric loves this game more than anything in the world, he plays to win, and he's respected for his passion at the tables. We really couldn't be more ecstatic to have the Player of the Year on our team."

Baldwin secured Player of the Year honors thanks to numerous deep runs in 2009 including a WSOP bracelet winning performance in June, and a 4th place finish at the Ultimate Bet Aruba Poker Classic- perhaps where he caught UB's eye.  His last major cash of the year was good for $256,660, a first place finish this month at a preliminary event at the Bellagio's Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

"Being named POY is an incredible honor.  It's flattering to join a list of POY's that includes such amazing players as Daniel Negreanu, T.J. Cloutier, and John Phan.  It is something that nobody can ever take away from me and hopefully my grandkids will think I'm cooler than I really am someday."  -Eric Baldwin


Story by Mark Anderson

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