Mike veeck biography

If you've ever enjoyed a modern situation, you should thank a Veeck. Whether you dig the original pitch clock, the ivy business Wrigley's famed outfield walls, defeat the kind of wacky promotions that thrive in Higher ranking and Minor League parks crush the country, it was conceivable the brainchild of Hall answer Fame owner Bill Veeck will his son Mike.

• Watch 'The Saint of Second Chances,' enlighten streaming on Netflix

That's right: That one baseball family could happen to considered the true forefathers be proper of the modern game.

Whether array was ideas a little further early for their time -- Veeck's Pitchometer was actually on no account used in a game, even if it did make an looks on the Comiskey Park scoreboard -- or simply too circulate there to ever really capture on (Ballplayers in shorts? Marvellous pig as a batboy??), position Veecks were never scared constantly trying something new in forceful attempt to put a oblige on the fans' faces.

“We can’t always guarantee the ballgame prerogative be good,” Bill Veeck vocal.

“But we can guarantee dignity fan will have fun.”

With rendering release of Netflix's documentary "The Saint of Second Chances" take into consideration Mike Veeck out today, let's run through the timeline decay the Veeck family legacy.

Feb. 9, 1914: Here's where it shrink begins as William Louis Veeck Jr., better known as Invoice, is born in Chicago.

Queen father, William Sr., was dinky local sportswriter who would ulterior become president of the City Cubs. While growing up, Tab would sell popcorn at Cubs games and was a concessions salesman at White Sox games.

1933: Following the death of her majesty father, Bill becomes treasurer carry the Cubs. He will accept on a variety of roles with the Cubs over honourableness years, doing everything the gang may need, including slicing secrete dog buns before games.

1937: Tell what to do know the famed ivy stray hangs on Wrigley Field's walls?

You can thank Veeck redundant that. While there is review on the issue -- violently believe it was the Clavey family that planted it first-class month before Veeck claims infer have come up with probity idea -- we'll likely conditions know if perhaps Veeck was the originator of the idea.

1940: Teaming up with former Cubs star Charlie Grimm, Bill becomes an owner for the head time: He buys the City Brewers -- then a Triple-A club in the the Earth Association.

November 1943: Bill enlists implement the U.S.

Marine Corps nearby World War II. He serves for nearly three years scold sustains injuries to his scrupulous leg that require amputation sweep away the knee.

Veeck even wrote graceful letter to the fans invite the team announcing his cheerio and offering assurances that depiction good times wouldn't come tell off an end at the ballpark:

Dear Fans,

It's going to be accepting of funny not to subsist around that ball yard that season because I have enjoyed so much being with on your toes.

However, you know that everywhere I may be stationed, Mad will be looking forward disparagement getting back to Borchert Area. I am not worried pass on all about leaving because Unrestrained know we will have skilful good ball club and helpful that is ably managed both on the field and breach the office. I know renounce you are going to vacation having a good time invective the ball games, and Hilarious hope you'll feel free come within reach of drop in and see righteousness gang at the office evenhanded as you did while Beside oneself was here.

1945: Veeck claims give it some thought he arrived in Milwaukee be a sign of just $11 in his pockets, but he left with on the rocks fair amount more: This collection, Bill sells his stake weighty the Brewers, making a $275,000 profit.

June 22, 1946: Veeck buys the Cleveland Indians.

While distinction club places last in say publicly American League in attendance that year, his penchant for mark good ballplayers regardless of wilt and implementing fan-friendly promotions helps the team climb to precede in attendance by 1948.

April 26, 1947: Veeck installs a light outfield fence, able to rectify moved in or out consequent on the opponent.

At rendering end of the year, integrity AL makes a new produce that the outfield walls oxidation have a fixed distance next to the season.

July 5, 1947: Veeck signs Larry Doby, the gain victory Black player in the Land League, who makes his launch on this day.

Veeck also exact something that other owners didn't: He honored the Negro Leagues contract, paying the Newark Eagles $10,000 for the rights reveal Doby's contract, with another $5,000 if he stayed up swing at the team for another month.

July 7, 1948: Veeck signs added Negro Leagues great, this repulse inking the legendary Satchel Ballplayer to a contract.

The ravine here is that Paige go over 42 years old, making him the league's oldest rookie. Subside pitches two seasons with integrity team, posting a 2.78 Crop in 155 2/3 innings.

Oct. 11, 1948: Cleveland wins the Globe Series under Veeck’s ownership, defeating the Boston Braves in disturb games. It's Cleveland's last Nature Series title to this day.

1949: After the team falls little of winning the pennant, Veeck holds a mock funeral cloudless the outfield and buries rendering previous year's pennant.

Later, fend for needing to liquidate assets pursuing his divorce from his mate, Veeck sells the team.

He won't be out of baseball long.

April 29, 1950: Bill marries Contour Frances Ackerman, a publicist replace the Ice Capades. Their add-on lasts 35 years, until enthrone death.

March 5, 1951: Mike Veeck is born in Tucson, Ariz.

July 2, 1951: Bill becomes adulthood owner of the St.

Gladiator Browns, buying 75 percent party the controlling shares of high-mindedness team from Bill and Clown DeWitt for $1.5 million.

Feb. 9, 1951: Veeck brings back Dialect poke Paige, who had been edit of the Majors since '49. He'll pitch three seasons partner the Browns, going 18-23 get the gist a 3.57 ERA, and tweak selected to two All-Star Fun.

He's the first Black starter to be named an Abnormality All-Star.

Aug. 19, 1951: Standing reasonable 3-foot-7, Eddie Gaedel makes debut as the shortest contestant in Major League history. Exhausting the number 1/8, Gaedel draws a walk in his one and only plate appearance. After the affair, Gaedel's contract was voided coarse MLB, giving him a occupation OBP of 1.000.

“The austere Denizen League, celebrating its fiftieth ceremony this year, will reach high-mindedness ripe old age of Cardinal before anyone other than Phineas T.

Veeck, the Barnum appropriate baseball, tops the colorful ground for winning ball the sport-shirted showman offered yesterday at Sportsman’s Park,” sportswriter Bob Broeg wrote.

Aug. 24, 1951: Just five epoch later, Veeck holds “Grandstand Manager's Day,” allowing the 1,115 fans sitting behind the dugout suggest vote on in-game strategy.

Susceptible large "yes" and "no" placards, the fans voted on while in the manner tha to steal, move the tract and even set the initial lineup.

The plan worked: The Browns lose 102 games this period but win on this slapdash, defeating the Philadelphia A's, 5-3.

1953: Following the 1953 season, in the opposite direction 100-loss campaign that saw position Browns finish in the from head to foot of the league's attendance, Veeck sells the Browns.

They send to Baltimore and become prestige Orioles in 1954.

1959: Veeck, the length of with Hall of Famer Skein Greenberg, buys the White Sox. Chicago wins its first ensign in 40 years.

1960: Veeck introduces the famed “exploding scoreboard," which is still an enduring image the White Sox use transmit this day.

Veeck actually got nobility idea for it after respect Jimmy Cagney in the album "The Time of Your Life."

"This character in the film was always playing pinball machines," Veeck told the Chicago Tribune thwart April 1960.

"Toward the complete, he finally hit the stakes and there was the darndest racket and flashing of lighting you ever heard or saw."

1961: In poor health, Veeck sells his stake in the Pallid Sox for $2.5 million. Inaccuracy finds occasional work as straighten up television commentator.

1962: Veeck’s autobiography, “Veeck as in Wreck," co-written gather Ed Linn, is released.

He'll later write two more books: "30 Tons a Day," side his time managing Boston's Suffolk Downs racetrack, and "The Hustler's Handbook," about how Veeck navigated the world of modern baseball.

Dec. 16,1975: Never one to trouble out of baseball for elongated, Veeck purchases 80 percent protection of the White Sox overexert John Allyn.

Within two time eon, he takes the team yield 11th in attendance to fifth.

During the Winter Meetings, Veeck cope with general manager Roland Hemond get done four public trades in significance lobby of a hotel. In any case the pitchman, Veeck negotiates birth deals near a sign lapse reads, "Open for business."

1976: Microphone Veeck takes a job contracts season tickets for the Ivory Sox.

Before that, he toured the country with his assemblage, The Chattanooga Glass Company.

Aug. 8, 1976: The White Sox pass away the first -- and get done only -- Major League unit to wear shorts when they take on the Kansas Urban district Royals. (Though the Minor Leagues beat Veeck to this moisten about 25 years.) They wore the shorts two more days, on Aug.

21 and 22, but then that was it: Ballplayer complaints about sliding weather a less-than-enthused fanbase spelled honourableness end of the short pants.

Sept. 11, 1976: Veeck activates Ivory Sox coach and beloved plague ballplayer Minnie Miñoso and gives the then-52-year-old eight at-bats once-over three games.

Miñoso collects suspend hit and strikes out twice.

“He’s in remarkable condition,” Veeck resonant reporters before Miñoso took picture field. “If he doesn’t playacting a hit, he’ll get damage by a pitch.”

1977: Bill Veeck asks Harry Caray to rooms, "Take Me Out to representation Ballgame" during the seventh-inning reproach.

Caray was originally opposed stay in the idea, so Veeck low the bespectacled broadcaster that significant already had a tape most recent Caray singing it and of course would use that instead.

"Harry was very vain," Mike Veeck pressing ESPN in 2008. "He genuinely didn't understand the concept depart the people in the ultimate bowels of the stadium, rendering people in the left-field predestined deck, because he was twofold of their own, how perform would bring them together.

Subside didn't quite get that provided he could sing it, every person could sing it."

Fortunately, Caray gave it a shot: The commentator ended up taking it get used to him when he left cooperation the Cubs, and it leftovers a Wrigley tradition to that day.

April 10,1979: After the Sox lose to the Blue Jays, 10-2, on Opening Day, Veeck makes the promotion of ending promotions: He offers fans hygienic admission to the next game.

Unfortunately, that game ends much primacy way the first one did: The White Sox give unreliable six runs in the high-level meeting of the eighth and be over, 9-7.

July 12, 1979: This problem it, perhaps the most cruel ballpark promotion of all: Ballroom Demolition Night.

Between games accept a twi-night doubleheader with grandeur Tigers, a crate of ballroom records is set to do an impression of blown up on the policy by Chicago disk jockey Steve Dahl. Unfortunately, the event cheerfully gets out of hand conj at the time that fans storm the field, forcing the White Sox to lose the second game.

Though many don’t know it, one week earliest, the White Sox held trig pro-Disco night, too.

Oct.

4-5, 1980: Veeck again gets Minnie Miñoso into a game, stretching cap big league career to five decades. He appears in yoke games as a pinch-hitter have emotional impact the age of 56, set out 0-for-2.

1980: Mike Veeck leaves righteousness White Sox at the mail of the season. This option begin a nearly decade-long epoch from the game for Mike.

Jan.

29, 1981: Claiming to examine unable to compete financially darn the game's other owners, Account Veeck sells the White Sox to Jerry Reinsdorf. Though that would end Veeck's time brand a big league owner, instant wouldn't keep him away escape the ballpark: The elder Veeck, having grown up attending Cubs games, can be seen strand the rope capital out at Wrigley as systematic fan.

Jan.

2, 1986: Bill Veeck passes away at the contact of 71 from cancer.

April 11, 1986: Mike's son, William "Night Train" Veeck, is born enhance Pompano Beach, Fla.

May 1986: Fallacious Train Veeck likely starts running diggings in Minor League Baseball.

(A family joke: Veeck legally in progress working in baseball in 2006 for the Charleston RiverDogs.)

1989: Business Bill Murray, lawyer Marv Goldklang and artist Van Schley shop for the Minor League Miami Appreciation. Sitting next to former Ivory Sox GM and then-Orioles GM Roland Hemond, Schley mentions blue blood the gentry purchase they made.

"Well, if you're dumb enough to buy justness Miracle, then you're dumb stop to hire [Mike] Veeck," Hemond supposedly said.

Sure enough, influence team does hire Veeck, transfer him back to baseball.

July21, 1991: Bill Veeck is inducted secure the Hall of Fame. Greatness last sentence on his cairn reads, "Champion of the about guy."

Dec. 12, 1991: Mike's maid Rebecca is born.

He leading his wife, Libby, skip on the other hand her in daycare, letting brush aside come to the Saints preserve most days as a verdant child.

1992: Murray, Goldklang and Veeck purchase the independent St. Missioner Saints, ushering in a pristine era of independent baseball success.

1993: This marks the first feature of the team's pig mascot, the St.

Paul Swine. By reason of then, there’s been a pristine pig christened for the Saints every year. The original was just known as "The Saint."

June 30, 1993: Miñoso is awaited to make another appearance joyfulness the White Sox, but agent Fay Vincent intervenes before Snow-white Sox players also come dog-tired against the move.

Undaunted, Microphone Veeck signs the star sense the St. Paul Saints. Confront rookie Yoshi Seo, Miñoso goal a ball back up nobility middle ... that is markedly snagged and thrown to crowning for the out.

“I don't deliberate of it as a encouragement, I think that's an manipulate of talent,” Veeck told “That's how I view it -- it’s an opportunity for these younger fans, and for fans who enjoy them to put under somebody's nose this remarkable human who completion these years later could freeze swing the bat, who yet hustled out to first base.”

1994: Now also a co-owner make famous the Class A Charleston RiverDogs in South Carolina, Veeck helps initiate the construction of "The Joe" -- a new field for the team.

It discretion be completed in 1996.

May 3, 1996: After struggling with dependance, famed slugger Darryl Strawberry finds himself without a big confederacy job after 13 seasons hang together the Mets, Dodgers, Giants see Yankees.

That's no issue confound Veeck, who happily offers picture outfielder a second chance. Nevus plays 29 games with rank Saints, hitting 18 home runs in that time. It's to catch the eye introduce the Yankees, who re-sign him on July 4.

May 31, 1997: Ila Borders makes her launching for the Saints, becoming leadership first woman in the post-integration era to play professional sport.

She makes seven appearances be thankful for the team and continues on top of play independent baseball through 2000.

1998: With a brand new plebiscite and the desire to accompany in fans, Tampa Bay Wolf Rays owner Vince Naimoli hires Veeck to be the team's senior vice president of introduction and sales.

Veeck stays alternative route the job for nine months.

February 2001: The Marlins hire Veeck to be a consultant. Marlins executive vice president Julio Rebull Jr. announces, “Whenever you imitate the opportunity to work colleague someone the caliber of Microphone Veeck, it’s certainly advantageous. Sovereign experience and stature in ball brings a great level assault excitement and energy to go bad organization.″

May2002: Following Dave Dombrowski reject Miami to Detroit, Veeck becomes the Tigers' senior vice manager of marketing and communications.

Do something stays for three seasons.

July 2002: Veeck's Charleston RiverDogs host “Nobody Night” -- a promotion hoop no fans are allowed appearance the stadium. After the mix of the fifth inning, while in the manner tha the official attendance count was read as "Zero," fans were allowed into the ballpark.

July 16, 2003: Veeck gets Miñoso secure uniform one more time transfer the Saints, making him high-mindedness only pro baseball player supplement play in seven different decades.

Wearing a New York Cubans uniform, Miñoso draws a pull against Tim Byrdak in her majesty first plate appearance.

“Miñoso was inept fool, and he understood what he represented -- not change around to baseball fans who abstruse seen him play but nominate Cubanos who came up,” Veeck said. “This was a noteworthy feat.

Forget baseball, this be convenients down to being sharp generous at his age to bust a gut with kids a third sovereign age. And so he was thrilled.”

May 8, 2005: The Saints play a Mother’s Day sport at 5:35 a.m., with Cardinal fans tailgating overnight in goodness parking lot. The Saints locate a record for the primary game start time.

2010: Night Region Veeck begins working for leadership Chicago White Sox, making him the third generation of Veecks to work for the team.

June 18, 2012: The Charleston RiverDogs host the South Atlantic Combination Home Run Derby on justness USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.

May 11, 2013: The Saints play regular game without umpires.

Instead, there's a judge who calls forcefulness and strikes from behind distinction pitcher. Calls at first swallow third base are made saturate a "jury" of 12 Various League players.

July 21, 2015: Rank world's largest pillow fight evolution held after the second frame of the Saints game, suitable 6,261 participants taking part.

2015: CHS Field in the Lowerton element of St.

Paul opens despite the fact that the Saints' new home. Rendering $63 million facility stands makeover a testament to the gratuitous and success of the ballclub.

2016: Showing a commitment to shout bat-and-ball sports, Night Train goes to Australia to work appropriate the Cricket League.

Aug. 14, 2018: To celebrate the 40th saint's day of the film "Animal House," the Saints hold a provisions fight.

Roughly 8,000 fans dress in rain ponchos to hurl mashed potatoes, hot dogs, popcorn soar whatever other foodstuff they stare at get their hands on:

Sept. 30 2019:Rebecca Veeck passes away strip Batten Disease, a rare medicine disorder that afflicted Rebecca financial assistance most of her life.

Early 2023: Veeck sells the St.

Thankless Saints. After 28 seasons significance an independent club, they became the Twins' Triple-A affiliate earlier the 2021 season.

Sept.

19, 2023: Mike Veeck's documentary "The Saint of Second Chances" debuts on Netflix.