So Minnesota: State’s biggest baby

The birth of every baby is big news but one Minnesota baby gave the stork sore wings.

Nearly 90 years ago, the state’s huskiest baby captured headlines across Minnesota and the country.

On the evening of July 16th, 1936, Jacob Schmitz, Jr., was born in Graceville, Minnesota.

Schmitz tipped the scales at 16 pounds, 24 1/2-inches long, his head was 16 inches, his chest 17 inches and shoulders 8 inches.

"It seemed like he was always the highlight when we would get together or go somewhere, we would always, ‘This is the big boy, Jake Jr.,’ you know," Jim Schmitz said of his older brother.

Schmitz appeared in several papers and Life Magazine.

"There was a lot of news articles on him in different papers," Schmitz said. "He was born a very big boy and got a lot of publicity."

Jacob Schmitz died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 31.