Famous Short Guys - Eddie Gaedel

Edward Carl "Eddie" Gaedel (June 8, 1925 - June 18, 1961), born in Chicago, Illinois, was 3 feet 7 inches tall and became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game.

Gaedel gained immortality in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. Gaedel was secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns and put in uniform (complete with number "⅛" on the back) as a publicity stunt.

Gaedel popped out of a papier-mache cake between games of a doubleheader to celebrate the American League's 50th anniversary, and as a Falstaff Brewery promotion. Falstaff, and the fans, had been promised a "festival of surprises". Before the second game got underway, the press agreed that the "midget-in-a-cake" appearance had not been a great promotion. Falstaff personnel, who had been promised national publicity for their participation, were particularly dissatisfied. Keeping the surprise he had in store for the second game to himself, The Brown's owner just meekly apologized.

Eddie Gaedel entered the game between the Browns and Detroit Tigers as a pinch-hitter. Immediately, umpire called for the Browns manager. The Browns had the foresight to have a copy of Gaedel's contract on hand, as well as a copy of the Browns' active roster, which had room for Gaedel's addition.

Eddie Gaedel was under strict orders not to attempt to move the bat off his shoulder. Tigers catcher Bob Swift offered his pitcher a piece of strategy: "Keep it low."

With Bob Cain on the mound - laughing at the absurdity that he actually had to pitch to Gaedel - and Swift catching on his knees, Gaedel crouched with bat in hand. Cain delivered four consecutive balls, all high. Gaedel took his base (stopping twice during his trot to bow to the crowd) and was replaced by pinch-runner Jim Delsing. The fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation.

Gaedel ended up stranded at third base and the Tigers went on to win the game 6-2.

Eddie Gaedel finished his major league career with an on-base percentage of 1.000. His total earnings as a pro athlete were $100. However, he was able to parlay his baseball fame into more than $17,000 by appearing on several television shows.

Short Guy Fact = Due to scarcity, Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's.

Famous Short Guys - Kenny Baker

Welcome to Famous Short Guys, where I celebrate the same.

Do you recognize this photo of Kenneth Baker, a British actor, who is 3 feet 8 inches tall?

Kenneth Bakereis best known for playing one of the most beloved movie characters of all time.

Still can't place the face?

Maybe this photo will help.



Baker was a circus and cabaret performer when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in Star Wars in 1977. Baker appears in five of the six Star Wars films; though credited on Episode III, he never filmed any scenes. George Lucas decided to credit him in the film out of loyalty.

Kenny Baker Trivia

Baker played an additional role in 1983's Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the Ewok who steals an Imperial speeder bike.

Baker's other films include The Elephant Man, Time Bandits (Great Movie), Amadeus and Jim Henson's Labyrinth.

Superbowl Recap

We had some people over last night to watch the Superbowl.

Some of the commercials were pretty funny, although the ad makers mistakenly think that talking animals is funny no matter what. Not True!

The Colts won the game and the weather was horrible. It was pouring rain and the performance on the field was pretty sloppy, except for one man who stood tall and towered above everyone else.

This man, however, was not wearing a helmet, he was wearing a kerchief.



This time Prince didn't sit on a Harley to make himself look taller, instead he projected his shadow onto a thirty foot screen.



Someone watching the game with us commented how brave Prince was to be playing a guitar in the rain.

Yeah right, there is absolutely no chance that Prince would get struck by lightning because he was the shortest person in the stadium.

Famous Short Guys - Angus Young

Rocker Angus Young is short.

Angus can barely see over his trademark Gibson SG guitar as he runs around the stage sweating and jamming.

At 5 feet 2 inches, the lead guitarist of ACDC (Angus' brother Malcom, 5'3", plays rhythm guitar), Angus has the highest Rock-to-Height-Ratio of anyone.

Famous Short Guys - Nate Robinson

There have been quite a few short guys in the NBA. Spud Web and Mugsy Bouges being the two most famous.

You have got to check out this video of 5'9" Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks blocking the shot of 7'6" Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets.

Lets see Prince do this(link)

Tom Cruise Vs. Prince

A short guy match-up, by request.

The winner, Prince.

Although kind of flaky and not a musical genius (as a Turnipblog commentor recently proclaimed), Prince's music is good.

Tom Cruise, on-the-other-hand has zero talent and is in an idiot.

Crap, I shouldn't have said that, doesn't Cruise have like superpowers because he has reached a high level of (paid a lot of money to) Scientology?

Isn't Cruise like a 9th level mage?

I like Prince,especially when I don't have to look at him. I have a killer Soundboard of a Prince concert on New Years Eve 1987 at Paisley Park, where Miles Davis plays with Prince.

Short Guys - Prince

The musician Prince has worn platform boots, teased up his pompadore hair-do, sat on a big motorcycle, and even shortened his name to a mere symbol....

... All lame attempts to hide the fact that he is extreemly short.

Sorry "Tafkap", but Turnipblog is outing you as 5'2".

Famous Short Guys - Tom Cruise

I am starting a new feature on Famous Short Guys. To make this list, you have to be under 5 feet tall.



Tom Cruise - 4'11"