George Tebeau

George Tebeau
(White Wings)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut April 16, 1887
• Final Game September 29, 1895
• Born December 26, 1861 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died February 4, 1923 in Denver, CO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"George Tebeau . . . today is one of the wealthiest and most influential men connected with the National game." - from Alfred Spink's biography of George Tebeau in 1911, appearing in The National Game

Tebeau as president of the Louisville club

Brother of Patsy Tebeau and cousin of minor leaguer Al Tebeau, George Tebeau played six seasons in the major leagues, including a couple on the same team as Patsy. Tebeau, primarily an outfielder, drew a lot of walks and stole bases.

George was already 25 when he made his major league debut. He had played in the minors since 1886, and before that was with a team called the Shamrocks in North St. Louis. He played in the minors through 1905. He was given the nickname "White Wings" for his speed.

He had a successful minor league managing career between 1896 and 1904, with stops at the helm of the Fort Wayne Farmers, Columbus Senators, Grand Rapids Furnituremakers, Denver Bears (1900 Western League champions), Kansas City Blues (1901 Western League Champions), and, finally, the Louisville Colonels.

In 1910 it was reported that he won a large lawsuit. He was the owner of the Kansas City Blues, and got a judge to enforce a contract he had to buy the stadium at a favorable price. The National Game believed that the land would be sold at a high price so that a new railroad station could be built there.

The National Game said that at one time he was in control of three clubs at the same time - Kansas City, Denver and Louisville. He sold two of them, but kept Kansas City for years after that.

Related Sites

• George Tebeau at the SABR Bio Project