Promotions & Bill Veeck

Bill Veeck once said "Anything you do to enhance sales is a promotion."

Do you know who he is. The last owner to buy a major league baseball franchise without an independent fortune, he was a leader in innovation for the sport. Truly a huge contributor in many respects, he was an "outside the box" thinker before the phrase was used, much less was worn out by over use!

Rumor has it he attempted to purchase the Phildelphia Phillies in 1942, with the intention of signing players from the Negor Leagues. Then commissioner Jdge Landis would not allow it. This was 4-5 years before Jackie Robinson came along.

In 1946 he bought the Clevleland Indians. The following year shortly after Jackie Robinson was playing for the Dodgers, he brought Larry Doby from the Negro leagues to become the first black player in the American League. The story goes that he introduced him to his teammates one by one, and the three that would not shake Larry's hand were traded soon thereafter.

Many other "promotions" of Bill Veecks live on in the memories of baseball fans. He signed as a coach the Clown Prince of Baseball, Max Patkin. His entertainment vgalue was a strong appeal to the fans in attendance. In 1951 he played the smallest person in MLB history, little person Eddie Gaedel, standing 3' 7". He made a single plate appearance and was walked with four consecutive balls before being replaced by a pinch-runner at first base. His jersey, bearing the uniform number "⅛", is displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He conducted trades in a hotel lobby, in full view of the public. He had his players wear shorts during one game. He added the first "exploding scoreboard" in the major leagues – producing electrical and sound effects, and shooting fireworks for home runs. He added players' surnames on the back of their uniforms. He installed an electric blower to blow the dirt off home plate, and also a mechanical box with fresh baseballs that would rise from underground. Both were operated by the umpire with foot switches. He had announcer Harry Caray sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch, who went on to become famous for singing the tune. He offered fans free admission the day after an Opening Day defeat. He was the man behind Disco Demolition Night, which resulted in a riot at Comiskey Park and a forfeit to the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Amazing what a little creative thinking can do. What about you?