Former Pittsburgh residents Jim and Dolores Baldinger spent many Sundays at Caesar's Palace Sports Book in Las Vegas.
They weren't betting or playing the slots, though. The Pittsburgh-raised couple already had beaten the odds after producing three sons, who from 1986-92 played in the NFL at the same time. Linemen Brian, Richard and Gary Baldinger played in the NFL for a combined 32 years.
"It was something else," said middle son Richard, 46. "I don't know if my dad gets it. It's unbelievable, I think, to do that from one family; they both have a better chance at a Las Vegas craps table."
The Baldinger brothers became the only modern-day trio to play in the same NFL game when the Bills played the Chiefs in a 1992 preseason contest. Brian and Gary were in training camp with the Bills, while Richard was with the Chiefs.
Dating to 1920, five other trios, and on one occasion, six brothers have played in the NFL at the same time. The Baldingers are the most recent trio to accomplish the feat.
It certainly wasn't easy for Jim and Dolores to keep up, but they made it work.
The couple, who met at the pool in North Park and have been married for 50 years, made the six-hour drive Saturday from their home in Los Alamitos, Calif. They entered the casino at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, and until 4:30 p.m., they watched their sons -- offensive linemen Brian and Richard, and defensive end Gary -- compete on different NFL teams. There, Jim, a 1947 Perry grad, and Delores, a 1951 Our Lady of Mercy Academy grad, were able to watch three games on multiple televisions at the same time. Jim and Delores now reside in Las Vegas.
That was the routine during football season, but life wasn't always luxurious and relaxing for the parents of six children, including three daughters.
The Baldingers relocated 28 times because of Jim's 30 years of service to the U.S. Marine Corps. Giving birth to six children in 10 years, Dolores was a stay-at-home mom. The boys were raised in Massapequa, N.Y. Brian played at and graduated from Duke, while Richard and Gary did the same at Wake Forest.
"Like anybody else, you want to emulate or beat your dad," Brian said. "All I wanted to do was impress him. Honestly, I wanted to outdo him. It was a motivating tool."
Jim was an All-City lineman and captain for Perry before he went on to play tight end for a year at Washington & Jefferson. He transferred to the Naval Academy, where he played his junior and senior seasons. Jim's career highlight came in a 1950 matchup with No. 2 Army when he made a spectacular 30-yard catch for the Midshipmen's second touchdown, giving Navy a 14-2 victory.
It wasn't easy raising six children, but "they never caused a problem," Dolores said. It helped, of course, that the boys were in the backyard playing from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., when touch football games turned into tackle. But the Baldinger brothers shaped up by the time they came to dinner, with their shoes shined by 5 every night.
"If I go back and put it into words, it was self-discipline, confidence and hard work; everything that's needed to play in sports, he gave us," Richard said. "You look back now and you have all this self discipline. The greatest thing he ever gave me was self-discipline, to go out there every day to do it again and again even when you don't want to."
Richard's career in the NFL with the Giants, Chiefs, Patriots and Seahawks lasted 13 years. Gary, 42, played seven seasons with the Chiefs and Bills. Brian, 47, played for the Cowboys, Colts and Eagles during his 12-year stint in the NFL.
Brian is a analyst for the NFL on Fox. Richard works as a football color commentator for CBS and hosts a pre- and postgame show for the Chiefs. Gary sells medical equipment and coaches his son's Pee-Wee football team.
"Every single thing I do is geared toward impressing and showing my love for my parents," Brian said. "I knew what a kick it was for them to turn the TV on and see me play football, and I knew they'd like to turn on the TV and see me (commentating)."
Additional Information:
The Baldinger blotter
BrianDallas Cowboys 1982-87
Indianapolis Colts 1988-91
Philadelphia Eagles 1992-93
Richard
New York Giants1982-83
Kansas City Chiefs 1983-1992
New England Patriots 1993
Gary
Kansas City Chiefs 1986-89
Buffalo Bills 1990-92 *
* Gary was the only son to play in a Super Bowl when the Bills lost to the Giants, 20-19, in Super Bowl XXV.
