William Louis "Bill" Veeck, Jr. (/?v?k/; February 9, 1914 – January 2, 1986), also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox. As owner and team president of the Indians in 1947, Veeck signed Larry Doby and thus successfully integrated the American League. Veeck was the last owner to purchase a baseball franchise without an independent fortune, and is responsible for many innovations and contributions to baseball.Finding it hard to financially compete, Veeck retired after the 1980 Chicago White Sox season. He died of cancer six years later. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame five years later in 1991.
Sometimes the best trades are the ones you never make.
2
We can't always guarantee the ball game is going to be good; but we can guarantee the fan will have fun."
3
It isn't the high price of stars that is expensive, it's the high price of mediocrity.
4
The Mets achieved total incompetence in a single year, while the Browns worked industriously for almost a decade to gain equal proficiency.
5
I was in the game for love. After all, where else can an old-timer with one leg, who can't hear or see, live like a king while doing the only thing I wanted to do?
6
My friends are the fans, not the owners. Dignity isn't my suit of clothes.
7
Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off.
8
When there is no room for individualism in ballparks, then there will be no room for individualism in life.
9
When the Supreme Court says baseball isn't run like a business, everybody jumps up and down with joy. When I say the same thing, everybody throws pointy objects at me.
10
I have discovered, in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.
11
To compare baseball with other team games is to say the Hope Diamond is a nice chunk of carbon. The endless variety of physical and mental skills demanded by baseball is both uncomparable and incomparable.
12
The most beautiful thing in the world is a ballpark filled with people.
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Fact
1
Last name rhymes with "wreck".
2
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 858-859. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
3
In the late 1960s, operated Suffolk Downs, a horseracing track in the East Boston section of Boston, Massachusetts.
4
Planted the ivy in Wrigley Field.
5
His 1960 White Sox team were the first to have the names of the players on the backs of the uniforms.
6
He wanted to buy the Philadelphia Phillies and acquire Negro League players in 1943, but backed out because he felt the risk was too great.
7
Bill was responsible for the planting of the ivy to cover the brick outfield walls in Wrigley Field, Cubs' home field. He also designed the center field bleachers.
8
His father, William Veeck, Sr., was President of the National League Chicago Cubs starting in 1917.
9
Along with former Cubs first baseman Charlie Grimm, bought the minor league Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1941, using borrowed money.
10
Sold Brewers and served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was seriously wounded in 1944. The subsequent series of surgeries caused him to lose a leg to amputation, thereafter having a wooden leg.
11
Forced to sell the Indians, due to financial difficulty 1n 1949.
12
Was successful in bringing Cleveland its first A.L. Pennant in 28 years in 1948.
13
As Cleveland Indians CEO was responsible for bringing the second black player, outfielder Larry Doby, to the major leagues in 1947, second to the Brooklyn Dodgers' signing of Jackie Robinson.
14
Purchased the Cleveland Indians of the American League in 1946.
15
Purchased the lowly St. Louis Browns (A.L.) in 1951. Sent midget Eddie Gaedel up to bat in a Browns' uniform, pinch hitting, wearing the number 1/8.
16
Sold St. Louis Browns in 1953 (they changed cities in 1954 and became the Baltimore Orioles).
17
Bought the Chicago White Sox in 1959, the year in which they won the American League flag for the first time since 1919. In 1960 introduced baseball's first interactive score board. It would discharge a great display of lights, music and fireworks when a home team player would hit a home run. Sold White Sox in 1961, due to poor health.
18
Bought the Chicago White Sox for a second go round 1976-1980. He was responsible for reviving fan interest, particularly with 1977's edition, dubbed "the South Side Hit Men". Sold team in 1981.
19
Was nominated to be President of the American Football League in the mid-sixties (didn't get job).
20
Was a fanatical reader and gardner.
21
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1991.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Kid from Cleveland
1949
Bill Veeck - Cleveland Indians Owner and President
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Late Night with David Letterman
1983
TV Series
Himself
The Way It Was
1976
TV Series
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1965
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1963
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Person to Person
1959
TV Series documentary
Himself
Known for movies
The Kid from Cleveland (1949) as Bill Veeck - Cleveland Indians Owner and President
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1963) as Himself - Guest
$7 Million
