However, if i were making a list, i would have at the very top, the amazing work by george f. Business and life lessons from bill veeck, baseballs marketing genius. His classic autobiography, written with the talented sportswriter ed linn, is an uproarious book packed with information. 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. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Id add the recent ty cobb bio a terrible beauty by charles leerhsen and the. 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.
If you have read veeck as in wreck before, please read it again. This book is full of the many anecdotes that made veeck a household name in. Mariss pursuit of the babe ruth home run record, and notes that it was a onceinalifetime event, hes right so baseball got. Veeck as in wreck the autobiography of bill veeck 1st edition. So on a sunday night, probably after a beer or two, i called him and he answered. Bill veeck was an inspired team builder, a consummate showman, and one of the. 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 was an inspired team builder, a consummate showman, and one of the greatest baseball men ever involved in the game. In 1962 he published his autobiography, veeck as in wreck, coauthored by sportswriter ed linn. Veeck, who has been enshrined in the baseball hall of fame, was of a rare breed. This boast has sparked the imagination of both fans and scholars, and.
This item may be a decommissioned library book and may not. Veeckas in wreck is still as entertaining today as it was in the 60s, though time has tempered some of the harsh criticisms of its been 50 years since bill veeck unleashed his autobiography veeckas in wreck on the literary world. This page is dedicated to the original comiskey park exploding scoreboard invented by bill veeck and also the past and present video board. July 20, 1962 a stormcenter of baseball, owneroperator veeck recaps his career in a noholds barred account of his activities through the years. Bill veeck was an inspired team builder, a consummate showman, an. Mar 23, 2020 veeck was a colorful promoter and antiestablishment sports entrepreneur who aptly titled his autobiography veeck as in wreck. 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.
Veeck sold his share of the team to one of his partners, arthur allyn jr. Buy thirty tons a day by bill veeck, ed linn online at alibris. Rent veeck as in wreck the autobiography of bill veeck 1st edition 9780226852188 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. Feb 21, 2012 this post was contributed by a community member. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Veeck was a colorful promoter and antiestablishment sports entrepreneur who aptly titled his autobiography veeck as in wreck.
Opening with the answer to a trivia questioneddie gaedel was the 37 player who took exactly one atbat for the st. 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. Note that in the example of the early cubs pennant race, every muffed. Apr 07, 2001 opening with the answer to a trivia questioneddie gaedel was the 37 player who took exactly one atbat for the st. 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. 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. As in wreck, veteran author and motivational speaker pat williams has penned his 19th book, marketing your dreams. I was reading his book one night veeck as in wreck and he mentioned, if you call me, ill talk to you. 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. Retired valpo teacher recalls night with bill veeck chicago. Pages can include considerable notes in pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text.
The man behind the cubs, chicago daily news, september 15, 1932, sec. He penned the book in 1954 almost by accident and with no great. Details about b0056htl8e veeck as in wreck the autobiography of. 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. The 47yearold veeck moved his family to a maryland farm on the shore of chesapeake bay. B0056htl8e veeck as in wreck the autobiography of bill. 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. 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.
If not, i strongly recommend that you buy this book. The autobiography of bill veeck from the worlds largest community of readers. Neighbor news searching for bill veeck peter wilt notes. 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. 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. He was probably the first owner to do serious and comprehensive analysis of. I just think that messing up a story youre recalling on the spot, without notes, speaking extemporaneously, is just a little different from a story youre writing in a book that, like veeck as in wreck, might be read for a long time after its been published, and. Veeck as in wreck is the wild and wonderful autobiography of baseball club owner bill veeck. 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. The veeck book for sure is in this thread somewhere maybe the other two as well.
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. The first thing i notice is that the sourcing is actually pretty bad. 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. William louis veeck jr also known as sport shirt, was an american major league baseball. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. 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. That book has convinced many skeptics and critics who think that professional athletes just play that they actually work. 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.
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. Its been 50 years since bill veeck unleashed his autobiography veeckas in wreck on the literary world. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Of course, that meant that during his life he was a pariah among owners. The autobiography of bill veeck, bill veeck with ed linn is published by university of chicago press. According to his autobiography veeck as in wreck, veeck claimed to have installed a screen to make the. 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. 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.
He emerges from this book as a pretty good baseball man, though much of the book. 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. Influenced and inspired by the classic sports book veeck. Bill veeck would have turned 100 this year and assuredly would have had a lot to say. 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. Bill veeck you know from reputation the wacky promoter who invented everything from ladies day to disco demolition night. 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. The two were meeting to compare notes in advance of each. Hals list is great ill heartily 2nd ball four, veeck as in wreck and glory of their times.
890 809 1499 283 1440 317 87 630 240 1587 177 1606 1301 779 742 122 149 742 354 1475 705 1111 1465 1164 1440 1662 816 633 805 675 23 642 923 1021 779 388 1419 744