Who Was The Tallest Baseball Player?

The tallest player in Major League Baseball history was relief pitcher Jon Rauch, who stood at an impressive 6’11”. Rauch had a successful career spanning 12 seasons, during which he played for a number of different teams.

Introduction

In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team. Professionalism quickly caught on and by the early 1900s baseball had become one of America’s most popular sports. Players were getting bigger and stronger and records were being set for the longest home runs. So, who was the tallest baseball player?

The tallest player in Major League Baseball history was 6′ 10″ (2.08 m) tall pitcher Jon Rauch. Rauch played for several teams during his 14-year career, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets. He retired in 2013 with a record of 24-32 and an ERA of 4.39.

At 6′ 7″ (2.01 m), relief pitcher Eric Hillenbrand is tied for the second tallest player in MLB history. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs during his brief career in the early 2000s.

Standing at 6′ 6″ (1.98 m), right-handed pitcher Randy Johnson is tied with Hillenbrand as the second tallest player in MLB history. Johnson is a member of the 300 win club and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. He played for several teams during his 22-year career, including the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Early Life and College

The tallest baseball player ever was Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jon Rauch, who stood at an impressive 6′11″. Rauch began his college career at Morehead State University before being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut with the White Sox in 2002, but only appeared in one game. He was then traded to the Montreal Expos in 2003 and spent two seasons with the team before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005.

Professional Career

George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. He was the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career and his record of 714 stands as of 2018. Ruth led the league in home runs during a season 12 times, a mark eclipsed only by Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. Named by Forbes as the fifth greatest sports legend of the 20th century and as an inductee of both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the National Football Hall of Fame, Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time.

At 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m), Ruth was a physically large man for his era; he usually weighed between215 lb (98 kg) and 225 lb (102 kg). When he started playing organized baseball he was just five feet six inches (1.68 m) tall.

Later Life and Death

Ruth died of throat cancer on August 16, 1948, at the age of 53 in New York City. He had smoked heavily for many years, and the cancer had spread to his tongue and larynx. Although he underwent radiation therapy, his condition worsened, and he became too weak to swallow. He was given a lengthy course of injections directly into his stomach in an effort to give him some nutrition and keep him alive long enough to see his daughter make her debut as a Hollywood actress. The treatments temporarily improved Ruth’s condition, but he eventually became too weak and emaciated to continue them. He appeared at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948, to help raise funds for cancer research, making his last public appearance. A few weeks later, Ruth was admitted to Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he gradually lost weight and strength.

Legacy

There have been many great baseball players who have graced the field throughout the years. One player who always seems to stand out, literally, is 6’11” pitcher Randy Johnson. He is not only the tallest player in Major League Baseball history, but also one of the most successful pitchers of all time.

Johnson was born on September 10, 1963, in Walnut Creek, California. He began his professional career with the Montreal Expos in 1988 and was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1989. It was during his time with the Mariners that Johnson truly began to shine as a player. In 1995, he was named American League Cy Young Award winner and helped lead the Mariners to their first-ever playoff appearance.

Johnson continued to enjoy success throughout his career, eventually winning a total of five Cy Young Awards. He also played for several other teams, including the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants. He retired from baseball in 2009 with a record of 303-160 and an impressive 3.29 ERA.

While Johnson’s on-field accomplishments are certainly impressive, he will perhaps be best remembered for his intimidating size and pitching style. Standing at 6’11” tall, he was one of the tallest players in baseball history and inspired fear in many batters who faced him. His signature pitch was a blazing fast fastball that often reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Combined with his height and delivery style, this made for a pitch that was almost impossible to hit.

Randy Johnson is undoubtedly one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His size, skill, and accomplishments have cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.