Giant Baba Death – Cancer 1938-1999 (Age 61) Japanese wrestling has had its share of icons, with names like Rikidozan, Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta, and Mitsuharu Misawa immediately coming to mind. However, no list of Japanese greats is complete without mentioning Shohei “Giant” Baba. Baba would find acclaim in Japan as both a wrestler, and the co-founder of All-Japan Pro Wrestling. Baba’s accomplishments were many, up until his death from cancer at age 61. From Pro Baseball to Pro Wrestling Shohei Baba was born on January 23, 1938 in Japan’s Sanjo City. Baba was a stand-out baseball pitcher in high school, earning a spot on the much-revered Tokyo Giants pro team after dropping out of high school in his junior year. However, Baba’s pitching record led to him being sent to the minors, then traded to another team. Whatever Baba’s future might have held in baseball ended when he slipped
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