Word: veeck
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When bustling Bill Veeck (rhymes with deck) barged into Cleveland in 1946 he smilingly confessed: "I'm a publicity hound." He lured the crowds to Municipal Stadium with boogie-woogie bands, fireworks, clowns, orchids for the ladies and baby sitters for the children. Before he sold out at a reputed profit of $600,000 in 1949, his Cleveland Indians had broken attendance records and won their second pennant in 48 years. Last week Veeck popped back into the major-league picture again: he took over the doddering, anemic St. Louis Browns...
...before he started work, ex-Marine Veeck hustled through the stands, shaking hands, signing autographs, listening to suggestions. Next night Veeck gave the crowd fireworks ("because I like to watch them") and a round of free beers or Cokes, so that the fans could drink to the new management's success...
...Buffalo. But when they do horse around they make you feel like an ass. You don't like it when you're out there, but when you're not in the game you have to admit they're comical. They get a lot of publicity. Bill Veeck owns a part interest and the papers really play up anything he says. He claims the Globetrotters are going to play behind the Iron curtain. Maybe they are, for all I know...
...Cleveland newspapers and radio stations lit up like Christmas trees last week. The town's baseball fans had just heard that the Indians were sacking popular Manager Lou Boudreau, and the fans were grabbing telephones to register their wrath. Three years ago, in the regime of Owner Bill Veeck, the club had talked about trading Manager Lou, but backed down when the customers raised the roof. This time there was not much advance warning: Boudreau himself was "shocked...
Handsome Lou, idol of Cleveland's bobby-soxers as well as its knowledgeable fans, had his biggest year in 1948, right after Bill Veeck tried to fire him. Batting a splendid .355 and driving in 106 runs, Lou led his Indians to their first pennant in 28 years and a world championship over the Boston Braves...