Laabs was sometimes known as "The Polling Pole", owing to his Polish ancestry (on his mother's side) and his ability to hit long home runs.

[2] Laabs began playing professional baseball in 1935 for the Fort Wayne Chiefs of the Three-I League.

In 87 games at Fort Wayne, he compiled a .384 batting average with a .699 slugging percentage and 56 extra-base hits.

[6] In 1936, he appeared in 157 games for the Brewers, compiling a .324 batting average with 85 extra-base hits, including 42 home runs.

Cochrane opined that Laabs had the best wrists in baseball and added: "He has massive shoulders and from the waist up he is as big as any giant.

"[6] The Tigers were sufficiently impressed that they sold outfielder (and future Hall of Famer) Al Simmons to make room for Laabs on the team's roster.

[1] When he was sent down to the Toledo Mud Hens in mid-May, the Detroit Free Press opined: "Although a brilliant prospect the youngster has not had sufficient experience to oust any of the regular from the Tigers' outfield.

[9] During the 1939 season, Laabs appeared in 100 games (95 for the Browns, 5 for the Tigers) and compiled a .300 batting average and .369 on-base percentage with 21 doubles, 10 triples, and 62 RBIs.

[1] The 1942 through 1945 seasons saw a talent drain from Major League Baseball as players were drafted or enlisted following the United States' entry into World War II.

His batting average dipped to .250, and he led the league with 105 strikeouts, but he also continued to rank among the league leaders with 17 home runs (fifth), 83 runs scored (sixth), 51 extra-base hits (sixth), 85 RBIs (seventh), and 237 total bases (eighth).

Defensively, he led the league's left fielders with 15 assists and four double plays turned and ranked second with 208 putouts and a .982 fielding percentage.

With only three home runs to his credit during the entire season prior to the game, he hit two home runs against the New York Yankees to clinch the pennant (the only pennant in Browns' history) in front of a record-setting crowd of 37,815 at Sportsman's Park in St.

Laabs had three hits, including a double and a triple, walked twice, and scored a run in 17 plate appearances.

[13] Laabs appeared in only 16 games for the Athletics, compiling a .219 average with no home runs and one RBI in 32 at bats.

[19] In 1951, after retiring from baseball, Laabs worked as advertising manager for Modern Bowler magazine in Detroit.