Yesterday's post covered an outstanding book that may go down as one of the all-time greats; today, let's look at a certified classic, an almost-50-year-old autobiography that holds up as one of the best baseball and best sports books ever. It took me a long time to get to "Veeck as in Wreck," but not a long time to actually read it once I did acquire it.
It's the autobiography of longtime baseball executive, showman, and stuff-stirrer Bill Veeck, who owned and ran teams for decades, turned around franchises, and reached the top of the profession. Despite his myriad accomplishments, he is best known today for signing 3'7" Eddie Gaedel to the plate as a pinch-hitter for the St. Louis Browns in a 1951 American League game. Veeck acknowledges this and opens his book with the whole story. It's a fine tale, but there's so much more to Veeck and his memoir.
I should mention credited co-author Ed Linn, who collaborated with Leo Durocher on another awesome baseball bio, "Nice Guys Finish Last," and may well be responsible for much of the excellent writing in this volume. In "Wreck," you get excellent storytelling, sharp prose, and a wry voice that is perfect for a man who celebrated the fun of the game and never took himself too seriously.
"Wreck" could be an outstanding read if only for the insights into stunts like the Gaedel appearance and events like signing Larry Doby to the Indians and making him the first black player in the American League. But what makes this a classic is its inside look at so many different aspects of the game. Veeck explains the machinations of how he purchased multiple professional franchises, and he makes each an exciting narrative, detailing the financial aspects without making them dull. He shares his theories and experiences with concessions, ballpark structure, and all aspects of promotions--not just publicity stunts. Veeck discusses his relationship with the press, how he makes personnel decisions, and his thoughts on in-game strategies. He combines his sharp insights with vivid anecdotes to create one of the most complete surveys of the world of baseball you'll ever read.
Perhaps most entertaining is his detailed analysis of trades he made and did not make with other teams, plus his interaction with the other major league owners. It's no surprise to any serious fan how sleazy the Lords of the Realm were, but if half of what Veeck claims is true, their actions offer a true eye-opener. If I may oversimplify, Veeck was ahead of his time, and the other owners resented his unwillingness to play the game on a metaphorical level.
"Veeck as in Wreck" was originally published in 1962, but it holds up today as a prescient look at how the sport was, what it became, and what it is today (Other than his archaic views on TV and attendance, most of Veeck's ideas look pretty good in 2010). But it's also a funny, entertaining, and insightful read, the fascinating story of one of the game's most compelling individuals.
It's the autobiography of longtime baseball executive, showman, and stuff-stirrer Bill Veeck, who owned and ran teams for decades, turned around franchises, and reached the top of the profession. Despite his myriad accomplishments, he is best known today for signing 3'7" Eddie Gaedel to the plate as a pinch-hitter for the St. Louis Browns in a 1951 American League game. Veeck acknowledges this and opens his book with the whole story. It's a fine tale, but there's so much more to Veeck and his memoir.
I should mention credited co-author Ed Linn, who collaborated with Leo Durocher on another awesome baseball bio, "Nice Guys Finish Last," and may well be responsible for much of the excellent writing in this volume. In "Wreck," you get excellent storytelling, sharp prose, and a wry voice that is perfect for a man who celebrated the fun of the game and never took himself too seriously.
"Wreck" could be an outstanding read if only for the insights into stunts like the Gaedel appearance and events like signing Larry Doby to the Indians and making him the first black player in the American League. But what makes this a classic is its inside look at so many different aspects of the game. Veeck explains the machinations of how he purchased multiple professional franchises, and he makes each an exciting narrative, detailing the financial aspects without making them dull. He shares his theories and experiences with concessions, ballpark structure, and all aspects of promotions--not just publicity stunts. Veeck discusses his relationship with the press, how he makes personnel decisions, and his thoughts on in-game strategies. He combines his sharp insights with vivid anecdotes to create one of the most complete surveys of the world of baseball you'll ever read.
Perhaps most entertaining is his detailed analysis of trades he made and did not make with other teams, plus his interaction with the other major league owners. It's no surprise to any serious fan how sleazy the Lords of the Realm were, but if half of what Veeck claims is true, their actions offer a true eye-opener. If I may oversimplify, Veeck was ahead of his time, and the other owners resented his unwillingness to play the game on a metaphorical level.
"Veeck as in Wreck" was originally published in 1962, but it holds up today as a prescient look at how the sport was, what it became, and what it is today (Other than his archaic views on TV and attendance, most of Veeck's ideas look pretty good in 2010). But it's also a funny, entertaining, and insightful read, the fascinating story of one of the game's most compelling individuals.
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