Eddie Gaedel wore number 1/8 for Bill Veeck's St. Louis Browns in 1951.In the second game of a doubleheader on Aug. 19, 1951, the 3-foot-7 Gaedel entered the game for the Browns (against the Tigers) as a pinch hitter for leadoff batter Frank Saucier. He walked on four pitches and finished his major league career with an on-base percentage of 1.000. After the AL President voided Gaedel's contract the next day, Veeck threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop and reigning MVP Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto was a short ballplayer or a tall midget. This is a near life size photo of Gaedel.
Veeck was an outgoing and controversial manager. As owner of the Indians in 1947, he signed the American League's first black player - Larry Doby, and later signed long time Negro Leagues Star Satchel Paige. While many thought the latter to be a publicity stunt, given that Paige was estimated to be 42 (Paige held his true age very close to the vest his entire life), Paige went 6-1 that first year with 5 complete games in 7 starts with 43 K's. He pitched 4 more seasons in the major leagues. Paige was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966. Veeck later went on to own the Chicago White Sox, where he came up with the "exploding scoreboard" and started the practice of putting players' names on the backs of their jerseys. Veeck sold the White Sox in 1961, but bought controlling interest in the team again in the mid 70s. Among his most famous promotions was the ill-fated "Disco Demolition Night," which resulted in a riot at Comisky Park and a forfeit to the Tigers. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
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