albie pearson in the major leagues, one of the original los angeles angels. the littlest angel of all. >> there is little albie, 5'5 3/8" of dynamite. >> reporter: barely bigger than the team's bat boy. >> the little man's hero. the guy who never made it. >> reporter: he did make it despite his size in 1958 with the washington senators he was named the american league rookie of the year. he even met marilyn monroe. >> man, my poor wife had to put up with it. >> reporter: those aren't his glory days. these are. >> lee, i hurt for some of these kids. my joy is to see young people with no hope get hope and get their lives changed. >> reporter: the littlest angel still a giant and still an angel who traded his bat and glove to wave troubled kids home. lee cowan, nbc news, desert hot springs, california. >>> that is our broadcast for this wednesday night. thank you for being with us. i'm brian williams. we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow night. we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow night. good night. -- captions by vitac -- ww