Where did Bill Veeck get the idea of using a midget in a Major League Baseball game? Be careful here, this is more a literature trivia than a sports one. The answer is not contained in his book "Veeck as in Wreck".

Senior Moments

He got the idea from New York Giants manager John McGraw, who told Veeck's father he always wanted to put his good luck clubhouse hunchback up for an at-bat. Veeck had learned of Gaedel through a Cleveland talent agent and agreed to pay him $100 for a day's work. This is according to http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2001/0816/1240553.html Jun 24 04, 10:24 AM

yeaux

I've got ye, Senor! The stunt was based on a short story by James Thurber published by the old Saturday Evening Post in the early 50's. The story was called, You Could Look It Up. The story is in many Thurber anthologies, most notably, My Life and Welcome to It. Read, it is funny, and see what I mean. Veeck never admitted it, but Veeck never let a good story stand in the way of veracity. Jun 24 04, 10:49 AM