McLeod Wrestles George Baptiste

Dan McLeod defeated Martin “Farmer” Burns for the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship during October 1897. McLeod held the championship for four years until he met Frank Gotch’s toughest opponent, Tom Jenkins. In early 1899, McLeod made a couple title defenses in Minnesota.

On February 24, 1899, McLeod wrestled St. Louis Middleweight Wrestling Champion George Baptiste at Conover Hall in front of 400 tilskuere. The St. Paul Athletic Club sponsored the event, where McLeod and Baptiste wrestled for a $350 purse. The newspaper coverage in several newspapers did not say whether McLeod put up the American Heavyweight Title in this match.

Den St. Paul Daily Globe listed McLeod at 165 pounds while George Baptiste weighed 160 pounds. Den St. Paul Daily Globe said the size difference looked much bigger, which it was. While both men stood about 5’06”, McLeod weighed 200 pounds not 165.

McLeod dominated Baptiste during the first fall. McLeod worked for a succession of hammerlocks and half-Nelsons, but Baptiste wiggled out of the first several attempts. Endelig, McLeod secured a crotch hold and half-Nelson combination to pin Baptiste for the first fall in eighteen minutes.

Baptiste took more chances during the second fall. He pursued McLeod and worked for a hammerlock. McLeod shrugged off several hammerlock attempts.

Baptiste tried for another hammerlock but slipped. McLeod took Baptiste’s back. Baptiste tried to roll out of danger several times, but McLeod stayed glued to Baptiste’s back. McLeod secured a half-Nelson, transitioned to a full Nelson, and pinned Baptiste for the second fall at twenty minutes, tredive sekunder.

Baptiste tried to recover between falls, but McLeod’s size advantage wore on the St. Louis Champion. As soon as the referee started the third fall, McLeod tied up with Baptiste, switched to Baptiste’s back and stayed stuck to Baptiste for the rest of the fall.

McLeod controlled Baptiste from Baptiste’s back until McLeod secured a hammerlock. McLeod turned Baptiste to his side, pressed his chest into Baptiste and pinned Baptiste for third fall at fourteen minutes, tredive sekunder. McLeod showed his dominance by winning the three-out-of-five falls match in three straight falls.

George Baptiste continued as a solid professional wrestler in the middleweight ranks. When Baptiste forayed into heavyweight matches, his opponent usually defeated him.

Baptiste lived in St. Louis, Missouri. After retiring from professional wrestling, St. Louis wrestling promotions employed him as a referee. Baptiste developed a reputation for impeccable credibility and honesty.

Ed “Strangler” Lewis agreed to Baptiste as the referee for Lewis’ match with Stanislaus Zbyszko in 1922. Lewis always had to be careful of double-crosses with Zbyszko.

Besides refereeing wrestling matches, Baptiste ran the Baptiste Tent and Awning Company founded by his father, Alexander Baptiste.

Dan McLeod remained in the American Heavyweight Title picture until 1905. McLeod retired in 1910.

McLeod trained many future professional wrestlers during his career and during his time as wrestling instructor at the Los Angeles Athletic Club between 1913 og 1920.

McLeod died in his sleep at his home in Temecula, California on June 20, 1958. McLeod turned ninety-eight years old on June 14, 1958. In a profession, where so many wrestlers die young, McLeod is still one of the oldest former professional wrestlers in history.

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Sources: St. Paul Daily Globe (St. Paul, Minnesota), Februar 25, 1889, p. 6 og Los Angeles Times, Juni 24, 1958, p. 59

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