2004 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel

[dananne]

It's really neat to me that you knew Bill Veeck. Bill Veeck was a legend in Chicago, as he likely was everywhere he went. My favorite story is when he signed Eddie Gaedel to a baseball contract with the St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, a midget, was sent in to draw a walk -- which he did in 4 pitches. Veeck, hearing that Gaedel might try a swing, though, told him that a sniper would be sitting in the stands! At least, that's the story as I know it. Of course, the AL Commish was not amused by the stunt, and he had the contract voided the following day. If I'm not mistaken, Veeck was also responsible for, among other things, player names on the back of jerseys, signing the first African-American to the AL (Doby), signing the oldest rookie in baseball history (Paige), installing moveable outfield fences (against the rules now), the exploding scoreboard, and the infamous Disco Demolition Night. Actually, the only time I ever saw him in Chicago was just before that. Soon after, he had to sell the Sox.