Veeck as in Wreck

[penncentralpete]

Trying to stimulate fan interest in the St. Louis Browns, new owner Bill Veeck allowed the grandstand fans to make strategy decisions in a game Aug. 24. There wasn’t a lot of risk – the hapless Browns entered the game with a 37-81 record en route to another finish in the cellar, 46 games out of first place.



The 3,925 fans in attendance did just fine, too. They made lineup choices, set the infield at times, and more. Although staff ace Ned Garver put his team in a first-inning, 3-0 hole against the visiting Philadelphia Athletics, the fans made choices that helped the Browns to a 5-3 victory.



The fans chose catcher Sherm Lollar to start over Matt Batts and Hank Arft to play at first base over Ben Taylor. Lollar delivered a single, double and home run, scoring three runs and driving in two. Arft also drove in a pair of runs.



During the game, fans held up cards choosing to play the infield back with runners at first and third. Philly’s Pete Suder promptly rapped into a double-play.

[six4three]

Veeck honed his craft with the American Association Milwaukee Brewers. He did some crazy stuff, including games at 10:00am for night shift workers, complete with breakfast.

We'll never see his like again.

[Bill_McCurdy]

Veeck honed his craft with the American Association Milwaukee Brewers. He did some crazy stuff, including games at 10:00am for night shift workers, complete with breakfast.

We'll never see his like again.

No, we sure won't see another Bill Veeck. Not only for the fact that true genius showmen like Veeck don't come around everyday, but also because of the way MLB, the networks, and corporate "group think" control what goes on - and when it goes on at the ballpark in the 21st century.

Forget breakfast time baseball! As an early rising septuagenarian, I would love watching some 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM games, but you'd never slip that one past today's Player's Union on any kind of regular basis.

The players hate the mornings as much as I hate the early afternoons, but they have a lot more punch on the subject. Last weekend, I tuned in a 12:30 PM game at Wrigley between the Astros and Cubs, determined to watch the whole thing. Just in case, I turned on the VCR as the first man was coming to bat in the op of the 1st. "I'll just close my eyes for a second," I thought. I opened them next in time to see the first man coming to bat in the top of the 9th. Buoyed by my protracted eye blink, I watched the rest of the game to its quick-to-come-by conclusion.

Where are you Bill Veeck? Come rescue us from more of the same old same old.

[six4three]

Well, the morning baseball was so night shift workers in defense plants during WWII could watch baseball. So the circumstances were somewhat unique.

I wouldn't expect to see that again unless we have a massive movement in this country towards 24 industrial production for war.

How many people would they get out to a ballpark at 10 am?

[chinese home run]

At the minor league park close to where I live- First Energy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey- they have had several games in the past few seasons where they'd have an 11:00 A.M. start. There are several senior citizen complexes near there, giving a lot of them a chance to see a ballgame instead of driving at night.

I remember meeting Ned Garver at a golf outing several years ago, and he told me that Bill Veeck would come up with more good ideas in a week than the rest of the owners combined would in their lifetimes.

It's true- the likes of him will never be seen again.