Evening star., 1933-10-05
PRESIDENT Of CUBS
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Veteran Chicago Base Ball
Official Dies at St. Luke's
Hospital.


president of the Chicago Cubs, died
today at st. Luke's Hospital, where
he had been suffering from leucemia,
an excess Of white corpuscles in the
blood
The death Of the veteran base ball
official occurred shortly after his ply
sician, DR.. Leo C.. Cloves. said his con-
dition had taken a definite turn for
the worse. Last night he was reported
somewhat better after oxygen had been
administered to assist him in breathing.
Veeck entered the hospital several
days ago. and his condition was con-
sidered critical from the start The
oxygen was administered yesterday
when his difficulty in breathing caused
his heart to be taxed and his tempera-
ture to rise.
During his illness Mrs Veeck, Will
liam L. Veeck, jr.. and Miss Margaret
Veeck took turns watching at the bed
side.
Shocked and Saddened.
Although shocked and saddened. off,
cials at the Cub Offices said today's
second game of the city series with the
White SoX would be played.
Bill would want the game to be
interruption" remarked Phil X. Wrig-
ley. owner of the club.
The game set for the day Of the
funeral. probably Saturday, will be
postponed, however.
Charlie Grimm. who was elevated
from player to manager Of the team
in August, 1882, in place of Rogers
Hornsby, was heartbroken when he
heard the news of his base ball chiefs
death.
He was the fairest. squarest fellow
that ever lived" Manager Grimm
choked.
Sharp reportorial wit, backed by a
keen sense of constructive criticism,
lifted Veeck from the press box into
the front Office of the Chicago Cubs as
president and one Of the outstanding
executives of the national pastime.
AS a writer, he made the fans shake
their heads and laugh at the mistakes
of the club: as its leader, he made 1t
one OF the most popular teams and
drawing cards in the history of base
ball.
1t was back in 1918. when the
White SoX were the base ball idols
of Chicago, and the Cubs were regard
ed as just another ball club, despite a
National League pennant during that
WAL -loIH yedi. lAdl Dill sceeh sot
his chance. A base ball writer under
the name of Bill Bailey" for the Chi
cago American. he had written a series
Of articles, criticizing the team and
making suggestions for its improve
ment
The late William Wrigley, jr., who
had just purchased controlling inter-
est in the team. read the articles and
called Veeck into his office.
If you think you can do any better,
then why don't you try it?" he asked.
"All right, 1 will" shot back the
base ball writer.
And he did. At Owner Wrigley's re-
quest, he became vice president of the
Cubs on December 8. 1918. second in
command to Fred Mitchell. who was
named president in addition to active
managership ON the playing field. On
July 6. 1919, Mitchell surrendered the
presidency to the enterprising base ball
r-eXecutive. and confined his at
tention to managing the team.
Tried New Ideas.
Weeks career as president Of the
club was featured by his willingness
and eagerneSS to try new ideas. He
convinced Owner Wrigley of the value
of advertising. He suggested Ladies'
Qdy. WHICH, OldW ZO,OOV WOIllcu WcChly
to the North Side park and he sug-
gested the purchases of several players.
despite price tags that made the Cub
Board Of Directors gasp. New ideas
were with him to the end. Toward
the close of the 1888 season he came
out with the proposal that the Ma
tional and American League clubs play
interleague series during their regular
championship seasons
1t was Veeck who brought Joe Nc
Carthy to the Cubs as manager and
who fought for his retention and
against the elevation of Rogers Horns
by from player to manager. 1t was
Veeck who braved the criticism Of
fans and writer's in diSmissing Hornsby
as manager in 1882. and who gave
Charlie Grimm the job. a move that
ultimately resulted in the capture Of
the second National League pennant
within three years for the Cubs. 1t
was Veeck, too, who convinced Wrigley
that Rogers Hornsby was worth $780,
600 in cash and players back in 1929.
Under Weeks leadership. the Cubs paid
probably the highest salaries in organ
lied base ball. Under him the Cubs
never had a real holdout.