MAX SURKONT: THE WHITE SOX FIRST FAT SIGNAL

1950: Before there was Bobby Jenks, there was Max Surkont. On this date, the White Sox demoted portly pitcher Max Surkont, who – like Jenks -- was summoned from the bullpen by a manager using the “wide” sign. Surkont, listed by baseballreference.com at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, was shipped to minor league Sacramento “with no strings attached,” according to the Chicago Tribune after leading the 1949 White Sox with 44 appearances.

 

While Ozzie Guillen affectionately used the signal to ID Jenks in the 2005 World Series, there was no jolliness attached to Surkont’s beef. “Sox release Surkont and his appetite” blared the Tribune headline of Feb. 5. The Tribune reported Surkont’s “tendency toward heft not only handicapped the righthander, but sometimes was a source of family embarrassment, according to accounts.”

 

One such source was manager’s Jack Onslow using the “fat signal” to bring in Surkont from the pen. Surkont asked for a halt to the practice because it offended his wife. Said the Tribune, “The situation, however, did not cause Max to stay away from the chuckwagon and that’s the main reason he’s departed.”

 

The 27-year old Surkont was 3-5 with a 4.78 ERA for the 1949 Sox wearing No. 16, the number Ted Lyons made famous. Surkont won 18 games at Sacramento in 1950 but never pitched again for the White Sox. He went to pitch in the National League through 1957.

 

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Edited February 5, 201214 yr by StatManDu

There is no way a guy of that height and weight could possibly be considered fat.

There is no way a guy of that height and weight could possibly be considered fat.

What one is listed at and what one really weighs is sometimes far apart. You might find this interesting.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Surkont

 

What one is listed at and what one really weighs is sometimes far apart. You might find this interesting.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Surkont

 

That would have to be a huge discrepancy from his listed weight for him to be considered fat enough to eat his way off of a team. I've heard of guys being 20 or 30 pounds different, but this guy had to be 50+ pounds heavier than listed.

Can we just make one big thread for these? I feel it'd bd easier.

 

(Not saying I don't appreciate it)

6'1" 240 lbs probably looked huge to people in the 40s.

6'1" 240 lbs probably looked huge to people in the 40s.

I'm thinking the 195 was his "ideal" weight. The fact that Max ate his way off the Beaves roster thanks to his love for Polish sausage is probably a tipoff that he was a tub.

 

I think Fridge's weight was listed at 320 for much of his career.

I'm thinking the 195 was his "ideal" weight. The fact that Max ate his way off the Beaves roster thanks to his love for Polish sausage is probably a tipoff that he was a tub.

 

I think Fridge's weight was listed at 320 for much of his career.

Well, his wikipedia pic shows him in a Braves uni and not looking severely obese.

 

I think the era was different than today.

Well, his wikipedia pic shows him in a Braves uni and not looking severely obese.

 

I think the era was different than today.

Yes in spite of today's much better knowledge of nutrition and the more advanced training techniques, nobody wanted a ball player in the shape of a Prince Fielder or a Bobby Jenks back in the day.

 

Edit: Let me modify this. There were some exceptions and I just thought of one.

 

http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/burgess2.htm

Edited February 5, 201214 yr by SI1020

Well, his wikipedia pic shows him in a Braves uni and not looking severely obese.

 

I think the era was different than today.

 

which is funny because the supermodel of then is considered a bit chunky today.