Rating: 
Summary: Veeck As in Wreck
Review: A wonderful slice of baseball history as seen from the consumate maverick of baseball. Veeck takes you on a journey from his beginnings listenning to John McGraw and his dad William Veeck Sr. shoot the breeze about baseball up until his purchase of the White Sox for the second time in 1975. Along the way you are introduced to those you may have never knew (Gene Bearden and Harry Grabiner), those you always knew (Eddie Gaedel, Satchel Paige and Lou Boudreau) and those you though you knew (Ford Frick, Del Webb and Charles Comiskey). The chapters about Veeck's ownership of the St. Louis Browns and baseball's fight about its disposition are alone worth the price of the book. I'd give the book five stars because it is well written and entertaining, but I suspect some of his stories are embellished in his favor. But you have to expect that in any autobiography. So many of today's ideas have Veeck written all over them, most notably interleague play and exploding scoreboards. One final note: keep a baseball encyclodedia next to you when you read this one. It comes in handy when the obscure names come flying, and if you feel "ole Willie" is telling a tall one.
Rating:
Summary: Veeck As in Wreck
Review: A wonderful slice of baseball history as seen from the consumate maverick of baseball. Veeck takes you on a journey from his beginnings listenning to John McGraw and his dad William Veeck Sr. shoot the breeze about baseball up until his purchase of the White Sox for the second time in 1975. Along the way you are introduced to those you may have never knew (Gene Bearden and Harry Grabiner), those you always knew (Eddie Gaedel, Satchel Paige and Lou Boudreau) and those you though you knew (Ford Frick, Del Webb and Charles Comiskey). The chapters about Veeck's ownership of the St. Louis Browns and baseball's fight about its disposition are alone worth the price of the book. I'd give the book five stars because it is well written and entertaining, but I suspect some of his stories are embellished in his favor. But you have to expect that in any autobiography. So many of today's ideas have Veeck written all over them, most notably interleague play and exploding scoreboards. One final note: keep a baseball encyclodedia next to you when you read this one. It comes in handy when the obscure names come flying, and if you feel "ole Willie" is telling a tall one.
Rating:
Summary: A clear baseball mind, a great baseball book.
Review: Bill Veeck starts the book with the moment he is most fameous for, the playing of a midget in a major league baseball game. He rightly points out that it will be what he is remembered for most.That is true but it's only part of the story. Veeck is a storyteller and a fun person. He thinks baseball should be fun and thinks fans should have fun watching it. His statement that fan will enjoy a 7th place team with bread and circus' more than a 7th place team without one is about as true as it gets. He demonstrates his storytelling ability over and over again. His tales from Rogers Hornsby and his mom; ("What makes you think you're smarter than your father?") To Satchel Page and his ultimate dream; ("I dream of starting a team of 9 midgets endlessly wallking, then I dream os Satchel pitching against them and striking them out endlessly,") to his added on chapter on his re-purchase of the White Sox in the mid 70's and his great love for Gene Autry; ("Back in Seattle again.") keep you reading through the book. There is venom here and it is directed at people and it's not painted with a happy face. That is one of the charmes of the book. He tells it the way he tells it. He doesn't expect to be loved and doesn't care if he is, but he will have his say. I'm sure he would be proud of his son who has done a fine job keeping the tradition going with the very fun Northern League. He would be prouder of the smiles his book produces on the faces of baseball fans. If you are one and even if you aren't this book will put a smile on you too.
Rating:
Summary: A clear baseball mind, a great baseball book.
Review: Bill Veeck starts the book with the moment he is most fameous for, the playing of a midget in a major league baseball game. He rightly points out that it will be what he is remembered for most. That is true but it's only part of the story. Veeck is a storyteller and a fun person. He thinks baseball should be fun and thinks fans should have fun watching it. His statement that fan will enjoy a 7th place team with bread and circus' more than a 7th place team without one is about as true as it gets. He demonstrates his storytelling ability over and over again. His tales from Rogers Hornsby and his mom; ("What makes you think you're smarter than your father?") To Satchel Page and his ultimate dream; ("I dream of starting a team of 9 midgets endlessly wallking, then I dream os Satchel pitching against them and striking them out endlessly,") to his added on chapter on his re-purchase of the White Sox in the mid 70's and his great love for Gene Autry; ("Back in Seattle again.") keep you reading through the book. There is venom here and it is directed at people and it's not painted with a happy face. That is one of the charmes of the book. He tells it the way he tells it. He doesn't expect to be loved and doesn't care if he is, but he will have his say. I'm sure he would be proud of his son who has done a fine job keeping the tradition going with the very fun Northern League. He would be prouder of the smiles his book produces on the faces of baseball fans. If you are one and even if you aren't this book will put a smile on you too.
Rating:
Summary: Veek as in Wreck
Review: Excellent book that reviews the history of marketing baseball. Many interesting stories of teams, names and specific actions which created excitement on the diamond. Must read for baseball historians.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent storyteller
Review: I literally could not put this book down from start to finish. Whether you like baseball, dislike the Yankees, or just enjoy rooting for the one guy who could have saved baseball from the financial and legal disasters of the past 50 years, this book will be one of the best you have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent storyteller
Review: I literally could not put this book down from start to finish. Whether you like baseball, dislike the Yankees, or just enjoy rooting for the one guy who could have saved baseball from the financial and legal disasters of the past 50 years, this book will be one of the best you have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: He was a fun guy!
Review: I read this book when I was thirteen, and read it again twenty years later. I enjoyed it both times. Spend a few hours with a man who loved baseball and is honest about being a little less than honest.
Rating:
Summary: He was a fun guy!
Review: I read this book when I was thirteen, and read it again twenty years later. I enjoyed it both times. Spend a few hours with a man who loved baseball and is honest about being a little less than honest.
Rating:
Summary: Genius at Work
Review: I was a Sox fan who was in Chicago with Bill Veeck, but was too stupid to appreciate him at the time, I stand chastized. Bill Veeck was an anomalie among owners. He was in it for the love of the game, not the love of the gain. His self depreciating humor and honesty set a bench mark that we may never experience again. His honesty about his scheming is refreshing and caused me to break out in a laugh more than once. From the Eddie Gaedel to Andy the Clown to Disco Demolition, Bill is the Anti Bill Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, Veeck is now my new hero.
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