100 years ago today, Bill Veeck, the former club treasurer for the Cubs and two-time owner of the White Sox, was born here in Chicago. Veeck followed his father, the then president of the Cubs, into baseball. As a 13 year old, Veeck came up with the idea of planting ivy to cover the outfield walls at Wrigley Field. In 1937, as general manager, he oversaw the construction of the iconic hand operated scoreboard that is still in use today.
Veeck left the Cubs in 1941, striking out on his own and buying the minor league Milwaukee Brewers. While he owned the team, he also served in the Marines during World War II, where he injured his leg, which required amputation. After the war, Veeck sold his interests in the Brewers and bought the Cleveland Indians, returning to the major leagues. In July of 1947, Veeck broke the color barrier in the American League by signing Larry Doby. In 1948, the Indians won their first World Series title since 1920. Veeck was forced to sell the Indians in 1949 due to his divorce.
2 years later, Veeck was back in business, purchasing the St. Louis Browns. While trying to force the Cardinals out of town, Veeck came up with one of his most famous, or perhaps infamous, stunts, signing Eddie Gaedel, standing 3 feet and 7 inches tall, and sending him to the plate in the second game of a double header against the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951. Gaedel walked on four pitches and was lifted for a pinch runner. American League president Will Harridge voided Gaedel’s contract the next day, claiming that Veeck was making a mockery of the game. In response, Veeck threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto, the reigning MVP, was a short ballplayer or a tall midget.