August 19th

Today is August 19th. The 57th anniversary of Eddie Gaedel's sole major league appearance. Wearing # 1/8, the 3'7" 65 lb. Gaedel was originally scheduled to pop out of a cake between games of a doubleheader, celebrating the 50th birthday of the American League, and the birthday of the Falstaff brewery. Bill Veeck didn't know what Falstaff's birthday was, but he didn't care. Why not celebrate? Fans were given a can of beer, a piece of birthday cake, and a box of ice cream at the gate.



Veeck decided to have Gaedel pinch hit in the second game of the doubleheader. Gaedel was told by Veeck to not swing at any pitches under any circumstances. He told him he had a high power rifle and would shoot if he even looked like he was going to swing. Gaedel pinch hit for CF Frank Saucier and walked on four straight pitches from Tiger pitcher Bob Cain. Veeck estimated Gaedel's strike zone to be one and a half inches. Prior to the at bat, umpire Eddie Hurley demanded to see a contract, and it was promptly shown. Jim Delsing came in to run for Gaedel. The Browns went on to lose 6-2.

Bill Veeck's little stunt, for which he paid Gaedel $100 and took out a $1M insurance policy, made AL President William Harridge furious, and he insisted that all midgets would no longer be allowed to play within major league baseball.

Also, this August 19th is Gary Gaetti's 5oth birthday.

Gaetti and Gaedel are the only major leaguers whose names begin with G-A-E.

In random other news, I've decided that the old Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo --that orange guy with the knife in his mouth -- is Dennis Eckersley.