Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Harry Gallatin:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Harry Junior Gallatin
  • Nickname: The Horse
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Deceased (born April 26, 1927 – died October 7, 2015, aged 88)
  • Hometown: Roxana, Illinois
  • Height: 6’6″ (1.98 m)
  • Weight: 210 lbs (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wore #11 and #22 during his career
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Roxana High School, Roxana, Illinois
  • College: Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State Teachers College)
  • NBA Draft: 1948, 1st Round, 5th pick overall by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For: New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Kids: Not publicly documented
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Harry Gallatin’s player archetype was that of a rugged rebounding big, an undersized center-power forward hybrid who built his value on toughness, durability, and relentless work around the basket. Defensively, he played the role of a physical interior enforcer and glass-cleaner, using strength, leverage, and nonstop effort to battle bigger opponents in the paint, while offensively he functioned as a straightforward inside scorer who thrived on putbacks, close-range finishing, and second-chance production rather than finesse creation. At 6-foot-6 and about 210 pounds, Gallatin was smaller than many traditional centers of his era, but his sturdy frame and motor helped him overcome that size gap, and his overall play style was direct, bruising, and dependable, the kind of no-frills frontcourt game that made “The Horse” one of the league’s most respected rebounders.

Notes:

  • Harry Gallatin was listed at 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall. During his playing era in the 1950s, official measurements often didn’t differentiate between height with and without shoes as is commonly done today.
  • It’s reasonable to estimate that his height with shoes would have been approximately 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm), considering the typical boost provided by basketball footwear.

Sources:

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Harry Gallatin
NBA.com — Harry Gallatin | Forward | New York Knicks
ESPN — Hall of Fame basketball player Harry Gallatin dies at 88