Bill Veeck and James Thurber: The Literary Origins of the Midget Pinch Hitter

Abstract

In an end-of-the-century list of baseball's most Unusual and Unforgettable Moments, the editors of The Sporting News selected St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck's use of midget pinch hitter Eddie Gaedel as the number one event in this category. Gaedel's plate appearance in an official American League in 1951 won the honor over such other contenders as the pine tar game in 1983, the earthquake that interrupted the World Series in 1989, young Jeffery Maier's catch of Derek Jeter's homer in the 1996 playoffs, and Juan Marichal's bat attack on catcher John Roseboro in 1965. VEECK'S CLASSIC PLOY Gaedel's appearance was a well-planned maneuver that occurred August 19,1951, in the context of a gala ceremony at Sportsman's Park to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the American League. Veeck, the former owner of the Cleveland Indians, had just purchased the Browns franchise from William and Charles DeWitt in June. The club was not doing well in the standings or at the gate, and Veeck, one of baseball's legendary masters of creative promotions, began trying various measures to increase interest in the team. To promote attendance, Veeck announced a fiftieth birthday celebration for the American League to be held between games of a doubleheader with the Tigers. He also proclaimed it to be the fiftieth anniversary of the Browns' radio sponsor, Falstaff Brewing, in order to gain publicity for the company (although the actual date of Falstaff's founding was uncertain). More than 18,000 fans, the largest crowd in over four years, were in attendance for this late-season doubleheader between two second-division teams, the fifth-place Tigers (18 games out of first) and the last-place Browns games behind). (1) The Tigers won the opener 5--2. An entertaining show for the fans followed. Festivities included a parade of 1901 vintage automobiles and a performance by a musical group that included pitcher Satchel Paige and several other Browns. As the finale, a giant birthday cake was brought onto the field. The cake opened and out popped Eddie Gaedel, a three-foot-seven-inch midget dressed in a miniature Browns baseball uniform and elf shoes with curled toes. The midget was then presented to manager Zack Taylor as a new Brownie. (2) The fans cheered (thinking the festivities were over), then settled in for the second game. The Falstaff executives seated in Veeck's box were disappointed. They had been promised a memorable event that would gain national publicity for the brewery, and they saw nothing very special in the appearance of a large cake containing a midget in a baseball suit. They were unaware that the most unusual event of the day was yet to come. (3) The second started with the visiting Tigers going scoreless in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Browns' leadoff hitter was schedtiled to be reserve rookie outfielder Frank At that point, a surprise announcement was made: For the Browns, number one-eighth, Eddie Gaedel, batting for Saucier. The fans were shocked to see the midget who had popped out of the birthday cake moments before actually advance to the plate. Plate umpire Ed Hurley challenged Gaedel's eligibility Manager Zack Taylor then produced a legitimate American League contract for Gaedel. As Gaedel stepped to the plate, Detroit pitcher Bob Cain and catcher Bob Swift discussed what to do. Understandably. Cain had trouble throwing strikes to the diminutive Gaedel, who complicated matters by going into a crouch, leaving Cain a miniscule strike zone as a target. As Veeck had planned, Gaedel walked on four straight pitches and trotted down to first base. Regular starting outfielder Jim Delsing came off the bench to pinch-run, and Eddie Gaedel returned to the dugout to a standing ovation. The result was the national publicity Veeck had promised his sponsors, as the photo of Gaedel at bat appeared in newspapers across the country the next day. …