Books and articles about William Veeck

As baseball writer for the Chicago American, Veeck was often critical of the management of the Cubs. Club owner William Wrigley, Jr., told him if he thought he could do better he could take over the club. Veeck did just that, and a year later he was named club president. He was not a patient owner and had seven managers in 13 years. When he began to spend Wrigley's money, he produced pennant winners in 1929 and 1932. His last move was the purchase of Chuck Klein from the Phillies. Veeck's son was executive Bill Veeck. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 6, 1919: William Veeck, former sportswriter, replaces Fred Mitchell as Cubs president, but Mitchell remains manager for Chicago. » February 10, 1920: Lee Magee, "wanting to make a clean breast of things," admits to NL Prexy Heydler and Cubs head William Veeck that he tried to "toss" a game with the Braves when he was with the Reds, but that the Reds won in the 13th. Heydler will later testify on June 8th that Magee told him he became suspicious that Hal Chase had double-crossed him and so he stopped payment on the check. » January 26, 1932: William K. Wrigley, 70-years-old, majority owner of the Cubs since 1919, dies and is buried on Catalina Island. His only son, Philip K. Wrigley, inherits the Cubs and the minor league Los Angeles Angels, but will leave most of the daily operations to president William Veeck. » August 22, 1933: William Veeck, president of the Chicago Cubs, urges a midsummer series of inter-league games. He also proposes a split season. » January 10, 1934: William Walker is elected president of the Cubs, filling the vacancy created by William Veeck's death during the World Series.