Donald Eugene "Big Moose" Meyer
Born:
April 22, 1910
Bonfield, IL
Died:
November 10, 2000
Kankakee, IL
Career
1937-38 Kankakee Gallagher Trojans (NBL)
Warren Times from January 14, 1938 mentions Big Moose was 6'7. His name is spelled Myer in the article.
Not 100% sure this is the right ID, but pretty certain.
Meyer was born in Bonfield, Illinois, and would play for the Kankakee Trojans in the NBL. He worked as a blacksmith and a contractor
He married Lyla Stehr in 1934.
(He is not related to teammate LaVerne Meyer. Don did have a brother named Laverne, but it is a different man. Yes. Two Laverne Meyers in the area. Odd. But true.)
Source:
http://www.kvgs.org/obit_lookup/Obit_Img/ObitM/ME00051.pdf
Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/m/meyerbi01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=meyerbi02
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/big-moose-meyer/
An article from the February 10, 1938 edition of The Paxton (Illinois) Record, titled "National League Team at Piper Saturday Night" (newspapers.com/image/509283521) contained the following line:
ReplyDelete" "Big Moose" Meyer from Indiana is 6 ft. 7 in. and plays both the center and forward positions."
I questioned whether it meant he was from Indiana the state, or he had played at Indiana University. I checked the IU Men's Basketball Media Guide and no Don Meyer is listed as a letterwinner, so I assume the article means he was living in Indiana at the time. I'm not sure if that helps with any further research.