Bill veeck was an inspired team builder, a consummate showman, and one of the. That book has convinced many skeptics and critics who think that professional athletes just play that they actually work. Neighbor news searching for bill veeck peter wilt notes the return of baseball with an ode to his. This boast has sparked the imagination of both fans and scholars, and. Id add the recent ty cobb bio a terrible beauty by charles leerhsen and the. So on a sunday night, probably after a beer or two, i called him and he answered.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Neighbor news searching for bill veeck peter wilt notes. Mar 23, 2020 veeck was a colorful promoter and antiestablishment sports entrepreneur who aptly titled his autobiography veeck as in wreck. The autobiography of bill veeck, bill veeck with ed linn is published by university of chicago press. Feb 21, 2012 this post was contributed by a community member. The man behind the cubs, chicago daily news, september 15, 1932, sec. This item may be a decommissioned library book and may not. The first thing i notice is that the sourcing is actually pretty bad. Pages can include considerable notes in pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Here, back in print, is jimmy breslins marvelous account of the improbable saga of the new york mets first year, as bill veeck notes in his introduction, preserving for all time a remarkable tale of ineptitude, mediocrity, and abject failure. In his autobiography, veeck as in wreck, bill veeck wrote, i had tried to buy the philadelphia phillies in 194344 and stock it with negro players. Influenced and inspired by the classic sports book veeck. The two were meeting to compare notes in advance of each.
Veeck was a colorful promoter and antiestablishment sports entrepreneur who aptly titled his autobiography veeck as in wreck. Bill veeck you know from reputation the wacky promoter who invented everything from ladies day to disco demolition night. The two things you need to know before you buy veeck as in wreck and you will buy this book, you must, if youve ever bought any professional sports bio before are the names veeck and linn. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Veeck as in wreck the autobiography of bill veeck 1st edition. While signed copies of veeck as in wreck are fairly easy to find this book is rarely found autographed but this one is signed by bill veeck in a very.
Its been 50 years since bill veeck unleashed his autobiography veeckas in wreck on the literary world. Veeck as in wreck by bill veeck 1962 the science of hitting by ted williams 1970 moneyball by michael lewis 2003 i have no problems with any of these selections. Retired valpo teacher recalls night with bill veeck chicago. The screen was on wheels, so any given day it might be in place or not, depending on the batting strength of the opposing team. Hals list is great ill heartily 2nd ball four, veeck as in wreck and glory of their times. I was reading his book one night veeck as in wreck and he mentioned, if you call me, ill talk to you. Bill veeck was an inspired team builder, a consummate showman, and one of the greatest baseball men ever involved in the game. Veecks return rankled baseballs establishment, most owners viewing him as a pariah after exposing industry politics and maneuvering in his 1961 book veeck as in wreck. Veeck was not heard from again in baseball ownership circles until 1975, when he repurchased the white sox from john allyn sole owner since 1969. This may be the best part of the book, and veeck s comments about the future of baseball will make you think the man carried a crystal ball in his back pocket. B0056htl8e veeck as in wreck the autobiography of bill.
Veeck, who has been enshrined in the baseball hall of fame, was of a rare breed. Details about b0056htl8e veeck as in wreck the autobiography of. His classic autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with information about the history of baseball and tales of players and owners, including some of the most entertaining stories in all of sports bill veeck was an. As popular with readers as it was reviled by baseball executives, the book climbed best seller lists in the summer of 1962 and has never faded from sight. However, he was the only potential buyer willing to keep the white sox in chicago after an offer was made to buy the team and move it to seattle, washington. Veeck as in wreck veeck as in wreck by bill veeck for pure showmanship, there may have been no more dominant figure in baseball history than bill veeck, the pioneering owner who was behind some of the sports most infamous stunts among them disco demolition night and the lone career atbat of eddie gaedel. This book is full of the many anecdotes that made veeck a household name in. This may be the best part of the book, and veecks comments about the future of baseball will make you think the man carried a crystal ball in his back pocket. Veecks return rankled baseballs owner establishment, most of the old guard viewing him as a pariah after exposing most of his peers in his 1961 book veeck as in wreck. William louis veeck jr also known as sport shirt, was an american major league baseball. The veeck book for sure is in this thread somewhere maybe the other two as well.
His classic autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with information. Veecks return rankled baseballs establishment, most owners viewing him as a pariah after exposing industry politics and maneuvering in his 1961 book. According to his autobiography veeck as in wreck, veeck claimed to have installed a screen to make the right field target a little more difficult for lefthanded pull hitters of the opposing team. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. He emerges from this book as a pretty good baseball man, though much of the book. Opening with the answer to a trivia questioneddie gaedel was the 37 player who took exactly one atbat for the st. If you have read veeck as in wreck before, please read it again. As in wreck, veteran author and motivational speaker pat williams has penned his 19th book, marketing your dreams. Apr 07, 2001 opening with the answer to a trivia questioneddie gaedel was the 37 player who took exactly one atbat for the st. In this one he refers to a d iary he found from his uncle harry who was the gm of the white sox during the 1919 period with some fascinating info. Sign up for email notification of new releases in your field. The 47yearold veeck moved his family to a maryland farm on the shore of chesapeake bay.
Mariss pursuit of the babe ruth home run record, and notes that it was a onceinalifetime event, hes right so baseball got. Louis browns in the second game of a 1951 doubleheader against the detroit tigers the pitcher, unable to locate the strike zone, gave up a base on ballsthis sports classic finds the subject providing color commentary to his own colorful career as a daring, innovative. He was probably the first owner to do serious and comprehensive analysis of. Veeck as in wreck is the wild and wonderful autobiography of baseball club owner bill veeck. The roughriding education of a neophyte racetrack operator by bill veeck, edward linn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Buy thirty tons a day by bill veeck, ed linn online at alibris. In 1961, due to poor health, veeck sold his share of the team, only to return in 1975 as the full owner, much to the chagrin of baseballs owner establishment, most of the old guard viewing him as a pariah after both exposing most of his peers in his 1961 book veeck as in wreck and for testifying against the reserve clause in the curt flood case. Bill veeck marketed, promoted, and sold baseball like no one before him and like no one since.
According to his autobiography veeck as in wreck, veeck claimed to have installed a screen to make the. Veeck was not heard from again in baseball circles until 1975, when he repurchased the white sox from john allyn sole owner since 1969. Id add the recent ty cobb bio a terrible beauty by charles leerhsen and the one about the charles finley as team by jason turnbow. Bill veeck would have turned 100 this year and assuredly would have had a lot to say.
July 20, 1962 a stormcenter of baseball, owneroperator veeck recaps his career in a noholds barred account of his activities through the years. White sox manager tony larussa, a bright young veeck favorite who may be the games first true clubhouse lawyer, since he has passed the florida bar, sits at the next table, jotting notes for an. Of course, that meant that during his life he was a pariah among owners. His classic autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with information about the history of baseball and tales of players and owners, including some of the most entertaining stories in all of sports literature. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Veeck sold his share of the team to one of his partners, arthur allyn jr. Business and life lessons from bill veeck, baseballs marketing genius. His autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with baseball history and some of the most entertaining stories in all of sports literature. The autobiography of bill veeck by bill veeck ed linn isbn. In 1962 he published his autobiography, veeck as in wreck, coauthored by sportswriter ed linn.
This page is dedicated to the original comiskey park exploding scoreboard invented by bill veeck and also the past and present video board. I cant recommend his autobiography, veeck as in wreck, highly. His classic autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with information about the history of baseball and tales of. The autobiography of bill veeck from the worlds largest community of readers. If not, i strongly recommend that you buy this book.