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 “I try not to break the rules, but merely to test their elasticity.” – Bill VeeckInducted into The National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, Bill Veeck (1914-1986) was one of the most innovative team owners in professional baseball history. One of his important contributions to the sport was integrating the American League by hiring African-American Larry Doby in 1947 (just weeks after Jackie Robinson was signed). Veeck was also the first to place players’ names on the backs of uniforms. As owner of the Cleveland Indians (1946-1949), St. Louis Browns (1951-1953) and the Chicago White Sox (1959-1961, 1975-1980), Veeck became notorious for his crowd-pleasing giveaways and gimmicks, such as having 3’7” Eddie Gaedel go to bat with a 1.5-inch strike zone. Veeck also installed the first exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park in 1960. You can see Gaedel’s 1951 jersey and learn more about Bill Veeck in Baseball As America. back >> |
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