Career
In 1966 he captained the Street Kilda Football Club to its first, and to date only, premiership. He was also a handy cricketer, playing two first-class cricket matches, once for Tasmania and once for a Tasmanian Combined XI. After retiring from football, Baldock served in the Tasmanian Parliament for fifteen years. Baldock made his junior football debut for East Devonport in Tasmania"s now defunct North-West Football Union in 1955 at the age of 16.
Even then, Baldock was already famous for his ball handling skills and balance.
Baldock played 71 games for East Devonport before he switched to Latrobe in 1959. At the age of 20, Baldock became the youngest player ever to captain Tasmania.
A ready-made superstar, Baldock ventured across Bass Strait in 1962 to play for Saint Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL), where he had an instant impact. Baldock played at centre half-forward and was made captain of Street Kilda"s "Team of the Century" in 2002, and named as the initial "legend" in the Street Kilda Football Club Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 1969, Baldock returned to Tasmania and captain-coached Latrobe to four consecutive NWFU premierships from 1969 to 1972.
Baldock played 158 games for Latrobe before finishing in 1974. He then played four games for New Norfolk in 1975 before beginning his parliamentary career. In state representative matches, Baldock represented Victoria 10 times, Tasmania 15 times and the North-West Football Union 20 times.
Baldock resigned on 30 June 1987 to become coach of Street Kilda.
Baldock was the senior coach at Street Kilda from 1987 to 1989. In his first year he lifted them off the bottom of the ladder but also suffered a minor stroke.
He continued to coach for a further two years. Baldock retired to Tasmania where he raced horses.
Baldock suffered from illness in his final years.
He died of pneumonia and kidney failure on 2 February 2011 following a fourth stroke. A state funeral was held at Latrobe, Tasmania on 11 February 2011.