Barlow, "Babe" (Thomas B.)
Basketball
b. July 9, 1896, Trenton, NJ
d. Sept. 26, 1983
When Barlow's team was scheduled to play in Madison Square Garden during the late 1920s, Tex Rickard, the Garden owner, put up a huge photo of him with the headline "Caveman Barlow Here Tonight!" Barlow complained, and Rickard gave him $75 for the use of his photo.
At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Barlow was a big man for his era, and he was a tough, aggressive player who often got involved in fights. He began his professional career in 1912 with the Trenton Tigers and, like most pro stars at the time, also played for several other teams in various leagues until 1921, when he signed with Eddie Gottlieb's SPHAs, who later became the Philadelphia Warriors. Barlow remained with the Warriors through 1927, then returned to the Tigers. He retired in 1932.