Matt Baldwin
Mathew Martyn Baldwin | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1926 Bradwell, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | April 8, 2023 (aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Curler, petroleum engineer, businessman |
| Years active | 1940s–? |
| Known for | Three-time Brier champion skip; popularizing "long slide" curling delivery; co-founder of Baldwin and Knoll; director of Alberta Energy Company |
Mathew Martyn Baldwin, CM (May 3, 1926 – April 8, 2023), was a prominent Canadian curler based in Edmonton, Alberta. Renowned for leading his teams to three Brier titles during the 1950s, his achievements and engaging personality played a significant role in igniting widespread interest in curling throughout Edmonton. He is also credited with popularizing the "long slide" technique, which has since become a standard delivery style among curlers.
Curling
Baldwin took up curling around the age of 14 or 15 in Bradwell, Saskatchewan. During the Second World War, with many men enlisted, he had the opportunity to compete alongside senior players at his local curling club.
He secured the Canadian men's championship as skip in 1954, 1957, and 1958. In his initial Brier victory in 1954, Baldwin’s squad—comprising Glenn Gray, Pete Ferry, and Jim Collins—achieved a 9-1 record to claim the title. At just 27 years old, he became the youngest skip to win the Brier at that time, leading a team in a sport often dominated by older men. Notably, he thrilled fans in Edmonton by sliding halfway down the ice when delivering his final stone under the rules of that period. This record for youngest skip was eventually surpassed by Kerry Burtnyk. Additionally, that season saw him winning both the Alberta Curling Association Bonspiel Grand Aggregate and the Edmonton ACT car bonspiel.
In 1956, Baldwin's team ended with an even 5-5 record. The next year, with teammates Gord Haynes, Art Kleinmeyer, and Bill Price, they completed an undefeated run to capture his second Brier championship. In 1958, after adjusting the lineup to include Jack Geddes at third, the team finished with an 8-2 record and defeated Terry Braunstein’s Manitoba rink to secure their third title.
Baldwin made a Brier comeback in 1971 alongside Tom Kroeger, Rich Cust, and Reg Van Wassenhove but concluded with a 5-5 record. His contributions to curling were recognized with induction into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1973. Outside of curling, Baldwin contributed five years as a director for the Edmonton Eskimos football team and is commemorated on the University of Alberta's Wall of Honour.
In December 2019, Baldwin was appointed to the Order of Canada. Having once held the distinction of being the youngest Brier champion, he was later acknowledged as the oldest living champion.
Personal life
Baldwin was among the first graduates of the University of Alberta's Petroleum Engineering program, established in 1948 following the discovery of Leduc No. 1, which sparked Alberta's postwar oil expansion. Alongside George Knoll, he co-founded Baldwin and Knoll, a company that became Canada's largest well servicing rig operator for thirty years. He also played a foundational role as a director of Alberta Energy Company, dedicating 25 years to its governance and earning induction into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2000. Prior to his petroleum industry career, Baldwin studied mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and worked as a roughneck in Lloydminster. Married to Betty-Jean, he was father to three children. Baldwin passed away on April 8, 2023, aged 96.