HOWARD BALDWIN TALKS HOCKEY, FILM, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

HOWARD BALDWIN TALKS HOCKEY, FILM, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

By: Matthew Blittner

Howard Baldwin has had a successful career in sports and entertainment.

He was the founder of the New England Whalers Hockey Club in the WHA and as President of the league was subsequently the leading force in achieving a merger between the WHA and the NHL.  

After the league merger Baldwin then operated the Hartford Whalers for another decade until the team was sold for a record price in 1988.

Baldwin enjoys a successful film career producing dozens of films, most notable being the Academy Award winning film RAY.  While making films in the 90's Baldwin put together groups to own the San Jose Sharks, the Minnesota North Stars and the Pittsburgh Penguins which he personally operated for seven years -- winning a Stanley Cup in the process and forging a unique partnership to own a team in Moscow -- the Russian Penguins.

Baldwin and his wife Karen continue to produce film and television and is based in Los Angeles. Their latest film just wrapped production.  It is a big action piece called CATEGORY 5 directed by Rob Cohen (THE MUMMY, TRIPLE X, FAST AND FURIOUS).

Baldwin was gracious enough to sit down with yours truly to discuss his planned reunion for the original New England Whalers:

WHEN DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR HOLDING A REUNION AND WHAT PROMPTED IT?: “We had wanted to do it for a while  - the biggest issue was having the time to dedicate to it and finding the right time to have the event. Jack Kelly, the Whalers first GM and President –and the main catalyst for the birth of the Whalers is excited about it --as are the former players.”

WHERE WILL IT BE AND WHO DO YOU EXPECT TO BE THERE?: “In Boston. Hoping everybody will be there, as well as Stan (Fischler) who was first color commentator with his late wife, Shirley.  We want this event to not only include the players and their wives, but also their families - children, and grandchildren.  

"The Whalers first year in the WHA was a classic David vs. Goliath story.  We went into Boston and took on one of the most established teams in the NHL, The Boston Bruins. At the time the Bruins were the premiere team in all the NHL -- led by great stars such as Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, and others. We also were playing in the same arena as the Boston Celtics and the American Hockey League Boston Braves.  Suffice it to say, the odds were stacked against us."

WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF THAT TEAM?: “Winning everything that first year. We played Winnipeg on CBS TV in a matinee game. They had Bobby Hull but we won the first ever championship (AVCO World Trophy). Hoisting the trophy, which was purchased the night before and we raised it on The Garden ice.”  

WHAT MADE YOU THINK YOU COULD BUCK THE BRUINS IN BOSTON?: My partner, John Coburn, and I were in our late 20’s and we didn’t know any better than to think we could make it work.  The ALF had worked, the ABA was working  -- we felt the WHA would work in Boston.  

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO GETTING THAT TEAM UNDERWAY?: “MONEY. We raised capital from Bob Schmertz, who later bought the Celtics.  The next big issue was a place to play.  We had to split playing time between the Boston Garden and The Boston Arena. Finding place to play and the constant issue of credibility were league obstacles.”

WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?: “The hiring of Jack Kelly was critical.

He was a champion college coach and had significant credibility in the marketplace.  The next smart thing we did was to let Jack do his thing. He’s a very competitive guy and incredibly smart with the way he put the team together. He knew college players would be able to play as well as some top AHL players and some NHL players that were young and on the rise, and he put together the perfect blend. Jack had a few key people such as Ron Ryan and Jack Ferreira. They deserve the credit on the ice.  I mainly focused on marketing and the business end and making sure that the franchise survived."

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT OPENING NIGHT?: “It was a huge high opening in Boston Garden. It was almost a sell out and we won in overtime, it was just tremendous.”  

FAVORITE PLAYERS? WHY?: “ I didn’t really have one individual favorite player that first year.  It was a true definition of a team. One of the team leaders was Ted Green, an iconic former Boston Bruin. Other players such as Larry Pleau, Tom Webster, and Rick Ley also provided strong leadership. Most of the other WHA teams would build a team around one player such as, Winnipeg with Bobby Hull. Jack put together in which everybody contributed.”  

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE WAY THE SEASON WENT, BOTH ARTISTICALLY AND FINANCIALLY?: “Artistically  - it went great -we won everything.  Financially – we just about broke even."

HOW WORRIED WERE YOU THAT THE WHA WOULD FAIL IN ITS’ FIRST YEAR?: “Very, worried, from day one until the merger seven years later. You are only as strong as your weakest link.”

WHAT KEPT IT GOING?: The Whalers always had competitive teams and committed partners, my biggest worry was the other teams. The other teams were not stable and wound up folding or moving or changing ownership often. There were some great owners/partners that came in and out of the league including Ray Kroc (San Diego founder of McDonald’s) and Bill Dewitt (current St. Louis Cardinals owner who owned Cincinnati) and Jim Pattison (Calgary).