Veeck is one of the game's great storytellers. Part of that reputation is that he tended to favor entertainment value over accuracy. But he's no bald-faced liar — at least no more than any other baseball legend writing his autobiography.
The most controversial (and fascinating) story in Veeck's book is his claim that, when baseball was still segregated, he tried to buy the hapless Philadelphia Phillies with the intention of stocking them with Negro League All-Stars. Veeck felt — justifiably so — that this team would rampage through the league and become a dynasty. But his plan was thwarted, he claims, when he informed Commissioner Landis of his plans. Soon after that, the team was sold right out from under him. To be sure, there's never been any shred of proof uncovered to back up this story. Is Veeck telling the truth? I don't really know. But it's a great story, isn't it?.
Even more than storytelling, Veeck's greatest skill was as a crowd-pleaser, whether that crowd was in the bleacher seats, in the press box or in the courtroom (Veeck testified on behalf of Curt Flood in 1972). The only people he never pleased — the ones that utterly detested him — were his fellow owners. And the stories of his dealings with those owners are quite fascinating.
So come for the stories — stories about his pennant-winning Go-Go White Sox, his integration of the American League and the subsequent World Championship won as owner of the Indians in 1948, and best of all, stories about the terrible St. Louis Browns, including the midget Eddie Gaedel, the professional tightrope walker and "Grandstand Manager" day.
I'll return soon with the Top 5 books, every one of which should be on a serious baseball fan's bookshelf.
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