Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-10
Big Leaguers Average
70 Years and 172 lbs.

w" Iork, april S-(AP)-ROSterS
OF the sixteen major league baseball
clubs. containing more than $50 pro-
spective starters in the 1926 pennant
races, reveal the average player as an
athlete of 2S years, 5 feet ii inches
tall, weighing 172 pounds.
Definite physical requirements of
the game have not eliminated the
performer who takes a marked devia
ton from these figures, however, for
nearly every club has its midget and
its giant, its promising youth and its
veteran warrior.
The little man of baseball, never
theless, is a rarity, and the rosters
reveal a mere handful of players
whose height is less than feet, 6
inches.
The outstanding exception has
brought to the Boston Braves its bril-
liant young second baseman, Walter
(Doc) Gautreau, one of the curiosi-
ties of the major leagues. Gautreau.
who leaped from the keystone sack of
a sensational Holy Cross nine to fame
with the Boston club. is the smallest
man in baseball, a midget of feet.
"a inches. weighing approximately
1872 pounds.
AT the other end of the line, tower
ing feet. 6 inches from his cleated
boots. is Connie Mack's pitching lath,
Bryan Harris, revealed in the rosters
as the tallest man on the major lea
que diamond.
Bryan, however has only one inch
on Eppa RiXey, of the Reds hurting
staff. There are several players of 6
feet, inches. including Leo Dicker-
man of the Cards. Bill jacobson If
the Browns and Earl Shelley of the
White Sox.
Seven of the teams have at least
one player who tips the beam beyond
the compound mark, with Buckeye.
the Cleveland hurler at the head of
the diamond whales" with a gener-
GUS lead at 225 pounds.
Babe Ruth, erstwhile home run king
OF the Yankees. is not far behind at
2l5, while "Tiny" Osborne. of the
Bobins, Rixey, of the Reds and Osca r
dams. each weighs 210 according to
the club rosters.
Although Gautreau holds the mid
get honors in both weight and height,
Rabbit Maranville. who makes his
start as a Robin this year. still is one
of the smallest players in the game at
147 pounds. The Rabbits height is
given as 5 feet inches, half an inch
greater than that of Earl Adams, the
Cub infielder. Charley Dresser. of
the Reds, Max F'lack. Of the Cards.
Jack Yavenor, of the Tigers and Ra-
mon Herrera of the Red Sox each
weighs less than $50.
All but two of the clubs have at
least one player over 35 years of age
and all have at least one starter I'M
der 25. Outstanding veterans are
Babe Adams, of the Pirates, As, Ty
Cobb. of the Tigers, Walter Johnson
of the Senators and Grover Alexan-
der. of the Cubs. each 80: Zach
Wheat. of the Robins. Fred Williams
of the Phillies, Iris Speaker
of the Indians. Eddie Collins, of the
White Sox and Grover Hartley, of the
Giants. each 3S.
Leading players in the early TWEEN
ties are Charley Ruffing, Red Sox
pitcher, Gautreau, of the Braves,
Gordon Cochrane. Athletics catcher:
Wayland Dean. Phillies pitcher; Flint
Rhem. Cardinel hurler. and Lou
Gehrig, Yankee first sacker.
Bridgeport, Conn, April 9.-(AP)-
Dan O'Neil. president of the Eastern
League, who has been trying to sell
the Bridgeport baseball club for limo
thy Sullivan of Springfield, Mass, its
town, to a group of Bridgeport bust
ness men. has failed in the attempt,
he announced tonight. Negotiations
have been in prospect for several
weeks. O'Neill expects to interview
several other men and hopes to COM
pletc deal.