Chet Laabs

From BR Bullpen

Chester Peter Laabs

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 8", Weight 175 lb.

Debut May 5, 1937
Final Game June 3, 1947
Born April 30, 1912 in Milwaukee, WI USA
Died January 26, 1983 in Warren, MI USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Chet Laabs was an above-average player who had 11 major league seasons. Most of his career was spent with the St. Louis Browns, and he was part of their 1944 pennant-winning team. In the 1944 World Series, he batted either third or fifth in the lineup, depending on the game.

He was an All-Star in 1943 but had his best year in 1942 when he hit 27 home runs. An outfielder, he played roughly equal amounts in left, center, and right in his career. He was famous for being Bob Feller's 18th strikeout in a game in 1938.

Before the major leagues, he played for Fort Wayne in 1935 and Milwaukee in 1936 (hitting 42 home runs although Rudy York was the MVP). After his playing days he worked for a trophy company in the Detroit area.

Reporters sometimes called him "diminuitive", although he wasn't all that short, and "chunky", although he wasn't all that heavy.