How tall was Shirley Crabtree

Shirley Crabtree's Height

6ft 2 ¼ (188.6 cm)

British wrestler, better remembered as Big Daddy. In a 1974 article he was called a "330 pound 6-2 giant". In the book 'Who's The Daddy?' the author mentioned he was 26 stone and a little above 6ft 2.

Add a Comment20 comments

Average Guess (40 Votes)
6ft 2.17in (188.4cm)
Prince of Darkness said on 28/Apr/23
I saw him at a leisure centre show, think it was 1982. He was a huge man, with a massive chest, though not exceptionally tall. I would say that he looked about 6'2" at the time and may well have been 6'3" - 6'4" back in the sixties. Back then, when he had a very impressive muscular physique, his chest was measured at 58.5"! I suspect that the 6'6" listings that appear on some internet reports come from his inclusion on some computer games, he was certainly never billed at this height. Usually announced as being 6'3" and 24 stones, though I think he was probably at least a couple of stone heavier! His brothers Max and Brian were also both wrestlers, with Max being the top booker during 70s and 80s and Brian a referee then MC during this time. Shirley was built on a much larger scale than his brothers! His nephew, former Rugby League player Eorl Crabtree, is about 6'5"-6'6" and was the largest player in the pro game during his career.
Gobgghbfffcnkj said on 22/Jul/20
One of my Mum’s colleagues told me about a time his father in law pulled over Big Daddy on the road. Colleagues FiL was 6’9 336 pounds and got offered a chance to team up with him. He declined but it’s still a good story
Nik Ashton said on 14/Jul/20
@ Sandy - That’s amazing, what a story this is! I once saw him wrestling at Pontefract Town Hall and what happened next wasn’t quite as dramatic as what happened to Jim! 🤼‍♂️👈! He wasn’t in the ring BTW!

@ Rob - How tall is his nephew Eorl?
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 12/Jul/20
My boyfriend came round again for a picnic in the back garden this afternoon and I asked him to tell me about some of the famous people he used to meet with his Dad when he was a boy and used to accompany his father to emergency call-outs, his Dad owning a garage business. One was Shirley Crabtree, the huge wrestler, when Jim was around 11.

Mr 🦀🌳 picked the little fellow up by his HEAD!

6ft2.25.

💪🏋️‍♂️🙄
Bob da cob. said on 25/Feb/20
6-2 legit. Tad over imo.
Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 12/Dec/19
@Sandy
Shirley could've been traditionally a unisex name, but morphed into becoming almost exclusively feminine, kind of like Ashley or Madison. I've met one boy named Madison, but never Ashley.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 11/Dec/19
I was still just a kid when his REAL name - Shirley - was discussed at ballet lessons. All us girls were in disbelief that such a big guy should have such a girlie name, but there are so many names that can be used by girls and fellas alike. I know that now, but I didn't then!

Big Daddy, for that's the name I knew him by, gets 6ft2.25.

RIP Big Daddy XX 🕯️💪
Nik Ashton said on 21/Sep/19
R.I.P Shirley Crabtree.
Demon87 said on 30/Jul/19
If he looks near 6ft 8 with big Daddy and they were old in that time, for sure lost height even giant haystacks. Do you think that when haystacks was young he was in 6ft 8 range??
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In my opinion was very similar in height to undertaker, but taker maybe was in peak height (1999), while giant haystacks was 50 years old (1996). It’s arguable in peak height haystacks taller than taker in your opionion
Demon87 said on 27/Jul/19
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Rob in this pic big daddy probably wasn’t in peak height, maybe 6 ft 1, 6ft 1 and half, but giant haystacks looks very tall... it’s arguable 6 ft 8 for haystack in your opinion?
Editor Rob
Giant Haystacks could look near 6ft 8 with Shirley at times
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/May/18
Rob, what about later on?

With his weight gain I reckon he was at 6ft1-2
Editor Rob
In his 40's he might have begun to appear closer to 6ft 1-1.5 than 2, but he might have still squeezed near to 187 during the 40-45 range.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Apr/18
Rob, is it possible that he was maybe taller than this in his 20's and he got measured at just over 6ft2 in later years?
Editor Rob
I think the peak height of his youth was just over 6ft 2.
Bazza said on 4/Mar/18
Wow, google has him at 198cm!! The 1980's Rock!
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 30/Oct/16
I'd say he's maybe 210lbs tops in this photo...unbelievable. Why would he want to gain all that weight?!

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Sam said on 1/Dec/14
Shirley Crabtree would have been a bolder wrestling name LOL
Paul said on 21/Nov/14
Editor Rob: 'haystacks has a page on here, his 6ft 11 was always a big boost'.
Yes but I don't think you could say it was fully 3.5in over, although agree Daddy at around 6'2.25 peak height. This photo below of the late 1970's does not seem to reflect a 5.25in difference, more like a good 7in.
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Editor Rob
Daddy by 70's may not have been at his peak, but I suppose Haystacks could have lost a little.
Chaz said on 21/Nov/14
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover says on 20/Nov/14
I'd have guessed 6ft2-6ft3 range and well north of 300lbs.
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Rob, how tall would you say this guy wrestling him is, Giant Haystacks?

Billed 6ft11

Go on the Haystack's page on here,I posted a back to back Photo of them on there.from about 1977,He's a good 6-7'' taller then.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/Nov/14
I'd have guessed 6ft2-6ft3 range and well north of 300lbs.
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Rob, how tall would you say this guy wrestling him is, Giant Haystacks?

Billed 6ft11
Editor Rob
haystacks has a page on here, his 6ft 11 was always a big boost.
Chaz said on 19/Nov/14
good to see him on here, he's Army Records show him to be 6'2.5'' in 1953,and still looked 6.2''in the 1970s,was a very big Name in the UK. even now if you ask to name a Wrestler it would more than likely be him they name.
Arch Stanton said on 18/Nov/14
Big Daddy yeah!!! What a legend!! I know somebody who used to know him!! Yeha, probably 6'2 ish and 25 or 26 stone.

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