The second annual Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament, a charity event hosted by former Major League Baseball (MLB) star Greg Maddux, takes place April 27-28 at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Maddux, winner of four straight Cy Young awards from 1992-1995, hosted the event last year, along with his daughter, Paige Maddux. All proceeds from the poker tournament, auction, and other festivities will go to the Baller Dream Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to children and young adults battling cancer.
Maddux Discusses Charity Event
The tournament on April 28 takes place at Circa’s rooftop cocktail lounge, Legacy Club. At the 2023 tournament, numerous former big leaguers attended, including Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Frank Thomas. Retired NFL star Evan Mathis won it for $75,000.
In 2023, the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament raised over $200,000. Maddux, who spoke with PokerNews, has even higher aspirations this year.
“I think we can do $300,000 this year,” the Baseball Hall of Famer said.
Maddux is motivated to have a large turnout for the second straight year as the Baller Dream Foundation is “near and dear to my heart.” Paige Maddux serves as the Regional Program Director for the charity.
The weekend of events begins with a plated VIP dinner inside Circa’s Galaxy ballroom, which includes a silent auction, and it is available to the public.
On April 28, the poker tournament, which features a $100,000 prize pool, kicks off inside the Legacy Club. The winner will take home $50,000.
“I hope the winner will be generous in donating some of that to Baller,” Maddux said with a smile.
A single-player tournament entry costs $5,000 for 10,000 chips. As Maddux explained, rebuys are also available. Those who would like to sponsor the event can do so for as little as $15,000 and as much as $75,000, depending on the package requested. Each package includes tournament tickets, hotel accommodations and more. Visit the Circa website for further sponsorship details or to register for the poker tournament and VIP dinner.
Players can add on chips for $2,500 and there will be $500 tax-deductible rebuys for 5,000 extra chips available.
Hall of Famer Talks Baseball
Maddux, who grew up and still resides in Las Vegas, enjoys poker but doesn’t play the game often. But he chose poker as the event to raise money for the Baller Dream Foundation for one simple reason.
“It’s fun,” Maddux said of poker. “It’s just more convenient than hosting a golf tournament because you don’t have to worry about the weather since it’s played indoors.”
Maddux comes from a poker background. His father dealt poker in Las Vegas at various card rooms for 20 years when he was growing up. He said he played cards for a few years in his 20s and often played poker with teammates on flights.
In 23 seasons from 1986-2008, Maddux won 355 games, posted a 3.16 ERA, won four Cy Young awards, and is still considered one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. He went into the Hall of Fame in 2014 with an Atlanta Braves jersey, the team he spent 11 seasons on after leaving the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 1993.
Speaking of that departure from the Windy City, Maddux said the Cubs organization and then general manager Larry Himes pulled an offer off the table during the offseason after signing Jose Guzman, a below average big leaguer entering his age 30 season.
Maddux was just 25 years old at the time and coming off his first Cy Young season.
“They gave me an offer and said it’s on the table until we sign someone else,” Maddux said.
Guzman started just 34 games over two seasons with the Cubs, posting a mediocre 4.78 ERA. Maddux, on the other hand, went on to spend 11 stellar seasons in Atlanta, winning three Cy Young awards, an almost unbeatable 2.63 ERA, helping the Braves reach the postseason every year, including a World Series title in 1995.
Maddux would return to Chicago in 2004 for three seasons late in his career before retiring with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.
Click here for more information on signing up for the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament.
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