Barrett, W.V. “Jumbo” - Baseball, 1969
Barrett, a native of Rockmart, was best known in Savannah for his tape-measure home run hit during a 1921 City League game. The blast, hit at Forsyth Park, reportedly traveled more than 600 feet to win the game for his team. Barrett was a professional baseball slugger who played from 1924-33 with several minor league teams. He began his professional career in Raleigh, N.C. in the Piedmont League as a catcher. In 1927, he batted .350 and slammed 40 home runs as a catcher with Knoxville in the old Southern League. The following season, Barrett hit .350 with 25 homers with his Memphis team. In August 1928, Barrett suffered a compound fracture to his leg during a game against Southern Association of Atlanta and was never able to make a comeback. At the time of his injury, manager John McGraw of the New York Giants had paid Memphis $250,000 for Barrett and planned to bring him up to the major leagues the following season.