"[2][3] At six feet, nine inches, Gee was the tallest person to play Major League Baseball until Randy Johnson debuted for the Montreal Expos in September 1988.

He received the Big Ten Medal of Honor as the student in the Class of 1937 who had best demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics.

[4] Ten years later, at the time of the 1930 Census, the family remained in Syracuse, and Gee's father was employed as the superintendent of repairs for the city schools.

Despite sustaining a broken nose, Gee scored 150 points in 18 games for the Wolverines during his senior year and helped lead the team to a 16–4 record.

[11] Gee received the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1937 as the student in the University of Michigan graduating class who had best demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics.

[12] In addition to receiving six varsity letters in basketball and baseball, Gee was also a member of the Sphinx society at Michigan and of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.

[13] After graduating from Michigan, Gee signed to play professional baseball with his hometown team – the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League.

[15] In April 1938, the Chiefs' new manager Jim Bottomley chose Gee as the team's opening day starting pitcher, making him the first Syracuse native to receive the honor.

[16][17] Gee allowed only six hits as the Chiefs defeated the Montreal Royals, 3–1, in front of an opening day crowd of 8,000 spectators.

[23] The purchase of Gee was called "the biggest deal made in the [International League] since Baltimore peddled Lefty Grove to the Philadelphia Athletics.

[25] Gee held the record as the tallest person ever to play Major League Baseball until Randy Johnson debuted for the Montreal Expos in September 1988.

[32] Gee's pitching arm did not improve in Syracuse, and on June 25, 1940, the Chiefs informed the Pirates that the option had been canceled.

With no room on the major league roster, the Pirates placed Gee on the voluntarily retired list for a minimum of 60 days.

[1] With the United States entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, many of the best players in the major leagues were lost to military service.

"[51] In early July 1942, Gee applied to Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis for voluntary retirement, and his request was granted.

[53][54] After watching Gee throw in batting practice in mid-June, manager Frankie Frisch reported, "He certainly looks great.

"[55] Gee joined the team in early July, and in his first start, he was replaced in the third inning after walking three batters to load the bases.

[62] After undergoing treatment in New York for his throwing arm, Gee appeared in his first game for the Giants on July 1, 1944, retiring the side in a ninth inning as a relief pitcher against the Pirates.

[64] He reported to camp late because the Groton High School basketball team that he was coaching had advanced to tournament play.

When he arrived at the Giants' camp in Lakewood, New Jersey, Gee told reporters that the soreness in his arm was gone, and he believed he would be a winner.

In early June 1946, Gee notified Giants' manager Mel Ott that he was ready and willing to resume pitching.

[68] The Giants invited Gee back, and he made his first start in late July, a 2–1 win against the Cincinnati Reds.

[68] A wire service report on the game opened as follows:Baseball fans throughout the nation rejoiced today in the successful comeback made by Johnny Gee, the tall man with the short name.

Later he explained that before giving up a good school job in Waterloo, N.Y., he wanted to be sure he was okay, so he left the Giants to pitch a semi-pro game.

[70]The victory over Cincinnati in late July proved to be Gee's final win as a major league pitcher.

"[73] Gee's refusal to quit his school teaching job and show up for spring training reportedly placed him "at odds with the Giants.

After a game in which he struck out 13 batters and allowed only three hits and one run, Gee noted that he planned to report to the Giants the following week.

[83] In August, Gee obtained a release from the Giants, allowing him to return to professional baseball after an absence of three years.

"[88] In March 1946, Gee was reportedly playing with an All-Syracuse basketball team that was combined with Karam's Syracuse Stars.

[97] He also played for the Oneida Indians and scored 19 points against the Syracuse Nationals in an exhibition game in late October 1949.