Age, Biography and Wiki

Giant Baba (Shohei Baba (馬場 正平)) was born on 23 January, 1938 in Sanjo, Niigata, Japan, is a Japanese professional wrestler. Discover Giant Baba's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 61 years old?

Popular As Shohei Baba (馬場 正平)
Occupation N/A
Age 61 years old
Zodiac Sign Aquarius
Born 23 January 1938
Birthday 23 January
Birthplace Sanjo, Niigata, Japan
Date of death 1999
Died Place Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Nationality Japan

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 23 January. He is a member of famous professional with the age 61 years old group.

Giant Baba Height, Weight & Measurements

At 61 years old, Giant Baba height is 208 cm and Weight 140.5 kg.

Physical Status
Height 208 cm
Weight 140.5 kg
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Giant Baba's Wife?

His wife is Motoko Kawai (m. 1971)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Motoko Kawai (m. 1971)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Giant Baba Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Giant Baba worth at the age of 61 years old? Giant Baba’s income source is mostly from being a successful professional. He is from Japan. We have estimated Giant Baba's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income professional

Giant Baba Social Network

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Timeline

Shohei Baba (馬場 正平), best known by his ring name Giant Baba (ジャイアント馬場), was a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter, and professional baseball player.

1938

Shohei Baba was born on January 23, 1938, in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, the last son of Kazuo and Mitsu Baba.

For most of his early childhood, Baba was one of the smallest children in his class, however, around the fifth grade, he began to grow at a rapid rate, and by the time he was in the ninth grade he was already 175 cm tall.

It soon became apparent he was suffering from gigantism.

Nevertheless, Baba excelled at baseball, becoming the top player at his local club.

After graduating from elementary school, Baba enrolled in the department of mechanical engineering at Sanjo Business High School.

Baba was forced to give up baseball when he joined high school as he was continuing to grow at an incredible rate (190 cm at the age of 16) and no cleats could be sourced in his size.

He soon joined the art club instead, but this didn't last long as the school ordered custom cleats and Baba was invited to join the baseball team.

Baba continued to impress, recording 18 strikeouts during a practice game, which led to tabloids reporting on "Sanjo High School's giant pitcher" and Baba garnering the attention of Nippon Professional Baseball scouts.

1954

In 1954, Baba met with Hidetoshi Genkawa of the Yomiuri Giants who invited Baba to drop out of high school and join the team full time.

1955

Baba accepted and began pitching for the Giants in January 1955 at #59.

Although Baba joined the Yomiuri Giants in 1955, he did not play in the league at all in his first year with the team by recommendation of director Shigeru Mizuhara.

1956

Baba was relegated to the second team for his first year, but eventually debuted in 1956 and performed well, earning 12 wins and 1 loss in his rookie year and 13 wins and 2 losses in 1957.

Both years, Baba won the Nippon Professional Baseball league's best pitcher award.

1957

Despite his success, Baba began suffering eyesight problems in 1957 and was forced to take time off for surgery when it was discovered he had developed a brain tumour.

Baba underwent craniotomy at the University of Tokyo Hospital on December 23, 1957.

The success rate of the technology at that time was very low, and the doctor warned Baba he was likely to lose his eyesight completely, however, the operation was successful, and Baba was discharged after a week.

1958

He returned to the camp with a bandage on his head in January 1958.

1959

Baba played for two more seasons, winning best pitcher for a third time in 1959.

However, after Hideo Fujimoto, a coach who formed a bond with Baba and regularly advocated for him to start, left the team, Baba was released from the Giants in 1959 after five seasons.

1960

Fujimoto would leave for the Taiyo Whales, and invited Baba to a training camp in an attempt to get him signed in 1960.

Baba was invited for a tryout by Goro Taniguchi and eventually hired, requiring him to move to Kawasaki, however, just days after moving, Baba fell in the bathroom of his new apartment and crashed directly into the glass door of the shower, which required 17 stitches in his left elbow and led to Baba losing feeling in his hand for a while.

Despite the injury not being serious, Baba retired from baseball shortly after and moved back to Niigata.

Baba first met Rikidōzan while he was playing baseball, who told him he would do well as a professional wrestler.

With his baseball career over, Baba decided to pursue professional wrestling.

Meeting with Rikidōzan again in April 1960, Baba began training in the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) dojo along with Kanji "Antonio" Inoki, a Japanese emigrant whom Rikidōzan met during a trip to Brazil.

Baba and Inoki debuted on the same show on September 30, 1960, with Baba beating Yonetaro Tanaka in his first match.

1961

In 1961, Rikidōzan arranged for Baba to wrestle and live in the United States for a few months.

Baba became a popular villain in America, wrestling on the west coast as the fan favourite "'Big' Shohei Baba", and as the villainous "Baba the Giant" in New York.

1964

He wrestled the likes of The Destroyer and Buddy Rogers numerous times, as well as Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in Madison Square Garden in February 1964.

1966

While Baba was in America, his trainer Rikidōzan died, and the JWA began to struggle, and Baba returned to Japan full time in 1966.

1968

He formed a popular tag team known as "B-I Cannon" with Inoki, and the two won the NWA International Tag Team Championship from Tarzan Tyler and Bill Watts in 1968, going on to hold the titles four times in total.

Baba also held the NWA International Heavyweight Championship on three occasions, and won the World Big League a record six times.

1970

As the JWA continued to struggle going into the 1970s, Baba and Inoki agreed to go their own separate ways.

1972

He is best known as a co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), a promotion he founded in 1972 along with Mitsuo Momota and Yoshihiro Momota, the sons of his mentor Rikidōzan.

For the first 10 years of its existence, Baba was the top star of All-Japan, while also serving as the booker, promoter, head trainer and president of the promotion from its inception in 1972 till his death in 1999.

Baba was also responsible for recruiting much of the talent for All Japan, and was the public face of the promotion for much of his lifetime.

Considered one of the most beloved Japanese wrestlers ever, Baba was a national hero with a level of popularity in Japan comparable to that of Hulk Hogan in the United States.

2006

The 2006 Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan survey ranked Baba the 93rd greatest person in the history of Japan, as voted for by the general public.

Among his many accomplishments, Baba was a record seven-time winner of the Champion Carnival, a four-time PWF World Heavyweight Champion, three time NWA International Heavyweight Champion and a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.