Description
Wokingham, Berkshire born Harry Baldwin made his first class debut for Hampshire in the 1877 season against Derbyshire. This would be Baldwin’s only match for Hampshire until 1887. By 1887 Hampshire had been stripped of their first class status and were now playing non-first class matches. His first match on his return in 1887 was against Surrey. During Hampshire’s period as a non first class county, Baldwin played 66 matches, the last of which came against Essex in 1894.
Baldwin was still playing for the club in 1895 when they regained first class status. Eighteen years after his first first class match, Baldwin played his second against Somerset. This marks Baldwin with the distinction of being one of three cricketers, the others being Russell Bencraft and Teddy Wynyard, to have played first class cricket for Hampshire in both periods for which the club had first class status. In the same season Baldwin represented the Players in the Gentlemen v Players match.
Baldwin was one of the best county bowlers of his time, taking 580 wickets for Hampshire in 150 first class matches for the County. His bowling average was 24.79 and he took 41 five wicket hauls and had 6 ten wickets matches and a best return of 8-74. His best season was in the 1895 County Championship where Baldwin took 114 wickets at an average of 15.77 with best figures of 7-42. Baldwin took more than fifty wickets in season seven times. Baldwin also scored 1,873 runs with the bat at an average of 10.70, with one half-century: a score of 55 not out in his final season in 1905.
Baldwin played two additional non first class matches for Hampshire against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1897 and a match against the touring West Indians in 1900.
Baldwin’s final match came against local rivals Sussex in the 1905 County Championship, which brought to an end an illustrious county career. In many quarters Baldwin was considered unlucky not to have represented England in Test cricket. Baldwin was the first Hampshire professional to have a benefit.
Baldwin stood as an umpire from 1892 to 1909. The first match he umpired was a University Match between Oxford University and Surrey. The final match he stood in came when Surrey took on Leicestershire in 1909. Baldwin also stood in a single Minor Counties Championship match between Staffordshire and Durham.