Eddie Gaedel Movement

[Calif_Eagle]

on August 21, 1953 AL President Will Harridge voided the St Louis Browns signing of "vertically challenged" player Eddie Gaedel who had demonstrated himself to be a force at the plate seldom seen in all of baseball history. On August 20, 1953 in his MLB debut Gaedel reached base in his EVERY plate appearance! Obviously fearing no one would ever be able to retire the awesome Gaedel, Harridge voided his contract and banned "midget" players from the game, obviously with the full support and collusion of the Commissioner also.

This banning, clearly illegal under the constitution, has always had me fuming. Its time to take action and toss all those players and other HOF-ers out of the Coop that have arrived since that shameful day. All midgets should once again be permitted to play Organized Baseball and go as far as their skills will carry them. No one who has tolerated this shameful state of affairs, whether they had anything to do with this or not, can be immune.

Do I have any support on this? (Tongue FIRMLY in cheek here, in case anyone thinks I am really serious. Barring blacks was horrible and wrong, and most of the players had little or nothing to do with it. Many barnstormed and played against and with black teams in the off season. )

[whoisonit]

Whole Numbers = Shame To The Hall !

Sir, I would be honored to stand tall ... errrr ... stand as tall as nessasary for this honorable movement.

Sign me up !

[Moses Fleetwood-Walker]

Barring blacks was horrible and wrong

No it wasnt, those were the "good old days"!

*runs to make a Rogers Hornsby appreciation thread*

[RuthMayBond]

on August 21, 1953 AL President Will Harridge voided the St Louis Browns signing of "vertically challenged" player Eddie Gaedel who had demonstrated himself to be a force at the plate seldom seen in all of baseball history. On August 20, 1953 in his MLB debut Gaedel reached base in his EVERY plate appearance! Obviously fearing no one would ever be able to retire the awesome Gaedel, Harridge voided his contract and banned "midget" players from the game, obviously with the full support and collusion of the Commissioner also.

This banning, clearly illegal under the constitution, has always had me fuming. Its time to take action and toss all those players and other HOF-ers out of the Coop that have arrived since that shameful day. All midgets should once again be permitted to play Organized Baseball and go as far as their skills will carry them. No one who has tolerated this shameful state of affairs, whether they had anything to do with this or not, can be immune.

Do I have any support on this? (Tongue FIRMLY in cheek here, in case anyone thinks I am really serious. Barring blacks was horrible and wrong, and most of the players had little or nothing to do with it. Many barnstormed and played against and with black teams in the off season. )

Holy
Moses,
how
fleet would
this movement dwindle away? Ya gotta admit, Gaedel was a real
walker.

[whoisonit]

No it wasnt, those were the "good old days"!

*runs to make a Rogers Hornsby appreciation thread*

I see that you have no problem ignoring Little-Americans in their own thread. This is so typical that I am forced to chuckle at you. The movement thanks you for displaying both the need and the reason for it by your very actions. The Eddie Gaedel Movement legions scoff at you as if we were you scoffing at the world.
Ignore the small at your own peril sir. The movement will not be stopped.

[Moses Fleetwood-Walker]

I see that you have no problem ignoring Little-Americans in their own thread.

Gaedel is actually apart of my movement. If not for men like Robinson and and a pioneer such as Fleet-Walker, he would've never been able to enjoy that 1 plate appearance he had. Jackie opened the door so that all men, no matter how "vertically challenged" they may be, could play in the big leagues. Team owner Veeck took a cue from Branch Rickey and took a chance on Gaedel to incite interest in his ballclub and to give equal opportunity to "vertically challenged" players. So with great pride I salute the Eddie Gaedel Movement as a bi-product of the Fleet-Walker Movement.

[Cowtipper]

Let's remove all the plaques of every player over 4'10" (the legal definition of a "midget") for participating - in some way, shape or form - in this hateful, discriminatory segregation against midgets. Sorry Wee Willie, that includes you too.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Team owner Veeck took a cue from Branch Rickey and took a chance on Gaedel to incite interest in his ballclub and to give equal opportunity to "vertically challenged" players.

Really? I would be shocked if Veeck had anything in his mind other than exploiting Gaedel for ticket sales only.

[Cowtipper]

Gaedel is actually apart of my movement. If not for men like Robinson and and a pioneer such as Fleet-Walker, he would've never been able to enjoy that 1 plate appearance he had. Jackie opened the door so that all men, no matter how "vertically challenged" they may be, could play in the big leagues. Team owner Veeck took a cue from Branch Rickey and took a chance on Gaedel to incite interest in his ballclub and to give equal opportunity to "vertically challenged" players. So with great pride I salute the Eddie Gaedel Movement as a bi-product of the Fleet-Walker Movement.

Ummm...you do realize that Veeck used Gaedel as a publicity stunt, yes? Not because he was being 'revolutionary' or anything?

[whoisonit]

Gaedel is actually apart of my movement. If not for men like Robinson and and a pioneer such as Fleet-Walker, he would've never been able to enjoy that 1 plate appearance he had. Jackie opened the door so that all men, no matter how "vertically challenged" they may be, could play in the big leagues. Team owner Veeck took a cue from Branch Rickey and took a chance on Gaedel to incite interest in his ballclub and to give equal opportunity to "vertically challenged" players. So with great pride I salute the Eddie Gaedel Movement as a bi-product of the Fleet-Walker Movement.

Ha, I scoff at you once more, only this time more so. The Eddie Gaedel Movement is a bi-product of no cause. It is fully vested in it's own self. You display all the characterisics of one who looks over those who fall below you. Your very words prove our point. Ha, we say. Ha. We need not even elaborate for those in the media are swelling our ranks after seeing words such as your own prove the rightiousness of our endevor. Thank you.

[whoisonit]

Show Your Support - Hoist Our Banner - Long May It Wave

The Banner for the fastest growing, most unstopable movement in the United States

[Chadwick]

Forever denying us the pleasure of watching Warwick Davis redefine the shortstop position.

[Calif_Eagle]

No it wasnt, those were the "good old days"!

*runs to make a Rogers Hornsby appreciation thread*

I await this new Hornsby thread with breathless anticipation Bringing attention to a major wrong in past American society is one thing. you can call it historical, a good thing, a bad thing, divisive, counter-productive, you can call it what you like; dependent on your point of view. 1888 was a long time ago. In fact, 1947 was a long time ago too, now. When do we move on? There's nothing to be done now about events of 120 years ago. Deal with todays world. If you want to play MLB and you are good enough, there is nothing to stop you now. Why dwell on the past?

My own POV is that most of these players and other figures from 1888 to 1946 are totally blameless for what went on back then. Very people then (or especially now, too) have any control, influence or impact on major governmental and social policy. Fewer than 3% of southern whites ever owned slaves, going back a bit farther. Owning a slave was like owning a Rolls-Royce would be today. Meant you were rich, powerful and probably well connected with the powers-that-be in government. How many of us can lay claim to ANY of that, 1888 or today, black or white?

I get that you would like to call attention to this wrong. But this surely isnt the right or fair way. I started this thread because I wont comment with a post right on that one (The MFW Movement thread.) That one deserves to die off.

One could argue Eddie Gaedel was exploited by Bill Veeck. One could also argue he got a nice payday, and more work from Veeck later too. as a Martian in a promotional skit at Comiskey Park when Veeck owned the Chisox during 1959. (A famous photo exists of that gig. also like the famed photo of Gaedel batting. And Im sure he was proud of his "baseball career" such as it was. He made the Show... see this link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gaedeed01.shtml How many of us can say that ?

[whoisonit]

Forever denying us the pleasure of watching Warwick Davis redefine the shortstop position.

Although I do not know who Warwick Davis is, I will not let my lack of knowledge prevent me from expounding on my views, for the movement is one of rightiousness and it will not be stopped. While you would seem to be emotionaly and intelectually allied with the Eddie Gaedel Movement, I will not let that persuade me from ailienating you too. For it is the very username you choose that proves my point and for this I thank you. 'Classic', of course means classic ball player which you, by the very fact of your existence proves means over 5 feet tall. Thank you for demonstrating the correctness of all that I say. I find I must scoff at you as I do all others for you prove the rightiousness of our cause. I notice you don't have an image of Warwick Davis as your avatar, but I wouldn't expect anything less from one who feels as you. Thank you for furthering the movement.

[Urbanshocker13]

Gaedel is actually apart of my movement. If not for men like Robinson and and a pioneer such as Fleet-Walker, he would've never been able to enjoy that 1 plate appearance he had. Jackie opened the door so that all men, no matter how "vertically challenged" they may be, could play in the big leagues. Team owner Veeck took a cue from Branch Rickey and took a chance on Gaedel to incite interest in his ballclub and to give equal opportunity to "vertically challenged" players. So with great pride I salute the Eddie Gaedel Movement as a bi-product of the Fleet-Walker Movement.

You know I can't tell if he is kidding or not?? He got to be fake!