BASEBALL DIGEST  OPENING DAY EDITION 

A Special Publication of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

By Abe J. Schear Mike Veeck April 2016 “A Creative Family” Schear: What are your first memories as I get older, I admire so much about * * * of ? him. Veeck: I remember walking into Just out of curiosity, did he bring his Better than most, the Veeck family has Comiskey Park when I was 8 years old work home with him? Was he baseball understood the game of baseball and the fun and walking through the concourse. I at home and baseball at work or was it can offer. Mike Veeck, firmly believes was holding my dad’s hand. I never he just baseball at work? that neither more and louder music and felt safer, and it seemed like he knew There was never a division. My son’s noise, nor more food and concessions, draw everybody in the world working around the fourth generation working for the fans to the ballpark as successfully as does the ballpark and on the scaffolding White Sox and I think because of our good baseball. getting ready for the season. Everyone strong recognition of the fact that we’re Mike is known for lots of things, got down to say “hello” and he stopped so lucky to be able to work, not only in including the legendary disco night at and shook hands, then we walked our passion, our vocations and avocations Comisky Park nearly 40 years ago. Of through the vomitory behind home plate blur, so it was just baseball. It was your more lasting importance, however, is his and there was the most beautiful lawn I’d job, but it is also was your hobby. It was contribution to so many minor league ever seen and it seemed to me that life your passion, it was your fun. There was teams, drawing large crowds, focusing on was just about perfect. never a line, even during unemployment baseball as “the” product which ultimately makes a night at the park “must do” family entertainment. Mike and his family have loved the game “I never thought that anybody would say that and, surely the , for many many decades. Their commitment to they’d throw at their mother.” baseball reminds us, in all of our pursuits, that focus, passion and fun can go hand- He probably knew everybody by their there was no line. in-hand. As you will read, Mike is both first names too, I imagine, or by their Sort of like it was your girlfriend, humorous and insightful and I am certain nicknames. almost. that you will enjoy his observations. He used nothing but given names. He Yeah, only truer. never used a nickname in all the time that Did you play baseball as youth? * * * he was on this planet as my father. I did indeed. I had a pretty good control You grew up in Chicago? and a curve ball, as I was telling Ryne No. I moved 17 times in the first 11 Sandberg the other night during the hot years of my life. While I was born in stove dinner, that broke a foot in half. Tucson, I just tell everyone Chicago’s Unfortunately, it broke in the same spot. home because it’s easier than explaining And so you could close your eyes, and by 27 moves. You go where the work is. the time I was pitching against juniors in Abe J. Schear is an attorney with Arnall I see. Even when you were a little boy. high school, they could close their eyes Golden Gregory LLP and is a member of Because my father was never and swing right through the middle of the firm’s Real Estate Group. Contact Abe independently wealthy, he, of course, had plate, right down the cock, as we used to at 404.873.8752 or [email protected]. to follow the work, which is something, say, and they would it a mile, and they A r n a l l Go l d e n G r e g o r y L L P | April 2016 did. My dad came to see me play really everything about them. nonsense. Whatever we’re experiencing only once and two guys from Delaware Yes. There were card sets, and only bums in social upheaval, obviously football had back to back home runs. I hope ended up in the spokes of your bike or comes to the fore, you know, it reflects they went to work for the space program the brim of your cap, but at any one time our societal landscape. So, during the because at least one and a half of those most kids that I knew had their favorite ’90s, we were relatively at peace and so ball are still in orbit. I mean, they hit team in their back pocket and in their baseball is perfect in that backdrop. them like the kick of the mule. Driving front pocket were a team of doubles that Clemente would have been a player home, my dad said to me “as a pitcher they were willing to trade. There was that would have been great on ESPN McGill, you’re a pretty good drummer.” also greater identification with players for the highlights, that’s for sure. I took that as great career advice. than there is today because you don’t Everything he did just was electric. Did your family see baseball as a sport have the time now to get to know them. When he made a play, or made a catch, or as a social experience when you I know that you said that the first game or made a throw, hit the ball, or ran, it grew up? you went to was a White Sox game, but was exciting. It was very much a sport. I probably veered off. Dad was intensely competitive. It was all about the game “Players have to be accessible and there has and, as I tell people all the time, if we did not have to promote, we’d probably to become an emotional relationship.” let the game peddle itself. The problem is that everybody that does not promote is out of business very quickly. 35% of what was your favorite team when you A lot of that was, you know, it was the people who come into your ballpark grew up? where you couldn’t see – and this number has held for 100 years The 1957 Milwaukee Braves. I’m sure home plate. I just think the idea of – love the game, don’t need to be told because of our loathing to this day of throwing Mays out, or throwing a guy out anything about the standings, averages, the Yankees, and corporate America. at the plate by 15 feet when it’s shot into things like that. That leaves 65% of your catching, Adcock at 1st, that corner was something. But Banks is seats filled with fans who respond if you Schoendienst, Johnny Logan, Eddie very similar to Minoso. Kirby Puckett stimulate, but when dad drew 2.6 million Mathews at 3rd, Covington, Bruton, and was like that in the upper mid-west. paid people in Cleveland in 1948 with Aaron in the outfield and, the unsung There are players who were so fascinated the Indians, that was a ball club with hero, Joey Jay, and of course Burdette by the ever-changing landscape of the any number of Hall of Famers, so that and Spahn. At the age of 6, I was a huge game, and yet never lost sight of the fact made that a great draw. But it was all Milwaukee Braves fan for some reason. that without the fans it doesn’t exist, so about winning. He just liked to dress it Who were your favorite players when they become super-human in so many up for those days that it wasn’t quite as you grew up, notwithstanding what ways. You don’t view Banks as a Cub interesting. team you were rooting for? really, you view him as an ambassador of Did the people where you grew up go Early Wynn. I never thought that the game. to the ball game to see the teams or did anybody would say that they’d throw at I was at Comiskey Park once, the new they go to see the players? It seems to their mother if she dug in the box. The one I haven’t gone to in protest. I was me today often times they go to see the day he was quoted in the papers, he at the old one and thought it was just players. became my favorite. I always wanted to this great old park with steel and shade I think that you are right. But I think they be , the Say Hey kid. and overhangs and, as you said, great went to see the players back then too, just What about non-pitchers? Were you green grass wedged into the city in for a different reason. They went to see an fan? some sort of almost impossible way. I their favorite players who consistently Yes, I was an American League fan. kind of miss Comiskey Park. played on their favorite teams. And Although, Roberto Clemente managed People wax so eloquently about Fenway now, of course, they move with some to worm his way into my heart. I just and about Wrigley, two of the great rapidity. I think that has changed. Fox couldn’t believe that anybody could old ballparks, Tiger Stadium, and of and Aparicio on the ’59 White Sox were throw like that. course Comiskey, are left out of the going to be there forever until Aparicio And what about a guy like conversation. Comiskey was not only suddenly found himself in . who played for the Cubs? built with great rapidity, it also, having Compared to today, you knew all the I’ve only been to 2 or 3 Cubs games opened in 1910, was the oldest ballpark teams and you had half the number of in my entire life. I’m a White Sox fan in the world and they saw fit to knock the teams that you have today. I think through and through. Fifty some years down. With those great Roman arches you had 16 teams, but the players later, and Bill Murray and I still argue over left field, it represented everything from year to year, there might only be constantly as partners about the Sox and to the working stiffs of the south side, of 2 or 3 new players on the team or 4 the Cubs. Ernie Banks was, you know, which the Veecks numbered themselves new players on the team, so you knew if there were 40 Ernie Banks in the in that group. It represented something exactly who was where and you knew game today, there would be none of this to us. It represented exactly what you 2 BASEBALL DIGEST by Abe J. Schear said, “steel”. It was workman-like, would be. with Harry (Caray) as an announcer. but it had a beauty to it in its lines, the Well, unfortunately, that’s the position Harry did not rate up there, he certain brickwork and, as I mentioned, the all these years later I’ve taken. By wasn’t a , but he was very arches and, of course, then dad added the now I’m old enough to recognize that I passionate about the game. What I exploding scoreboard. Comiskey was a guess somewhere in there I should have admired about Harry was that he was no workingman’s ballpark. It did its job, and slipped a couple of mea culpas in. I did homer and I liked that. Brickhouse and it could have stood for another 50 years apologize to the season ticket customers. Elston were very workmen-like, very had they put money in it rather than allow In the scheme of things, I can tell you popular in Chicago, but frankly they were it to deteriorate. that we’re not experiencing the troubles both homers. Harry did not mind taking Instead they’ve got a ballpark that I’ve in the Middle East we are having because the club on. Piersall should have stayed never heard, honestly, anybody say of a forfeited ball game. in Texas. anything very nice about. The sports page is sort of like the Have you ever been a beer vendor? Well, I will tell you, Abe, that they’ve sports and legal page today. I think Only at the minor league level. I’ve done improved it over the last 3 or 4 years. It’s a pretty good story to counterbalance every job you can do at the minor league still – I couldn’t agree with you more. whether people are gambling on tennis level. It looks like a bank. And it looks as if illegally would be disco night at a I think I could get a job at one of your it were dropped on the south side. The ballgame. I think that sounds pretty ball parks selling beer – I think I’d be irony of the park now looking like Chase sane to me, actually. good at it. at 35th and Shields is not lost on White Did you have any favorite owners that Well, you could do that with our lobbyist Sox fans. It’s become a Cub town, but you got to meet back in those days? in St. Paul, who helped us get the new during the ’70s when we were there, it I’ve always had kind of a soft spot for ball park built this year, one of the great was very much a White Sox town. You the Griffith family, not for any particular lobbyists of all time and one of the great know, Maddon is just driving a nail in reason. I was crazy about Chuck beer vendors. the coffin, because having him on the Comiskey. He and dad were not friendly I think I may do that at some point. north side is going to make it even more – but he always seemed lovely to me – an Tell me, if you could have dinner with 3 difficult. elegant man in the best sense of that. Mr. or 4 other people to talk baseball, who He is a pretty good manager, too. Wrigley was – I knew very early on that would you have dinner with? He’s a great manager. The White Sox Mr. Wrigley, no matter how inviting a Wow – I had a chance once to meet have just never had – and I sound like my target he was for promoting when I got Maris, but I would love to have dinner dad’s son, and I very rarely do that – but to Chicago, he was off limits. So I think with Roger Maris about that (1961) year. in this case, really since left, that dad, after his father died, became I wasn’t particularly a Mantle fan. Elston the White Sox haven’t had a personality. his surrogate son. The ivy actually was Howard. Also, I’d do anything for Larry The south side hungers for one of their a result of the fact that horticulture was Doby to come back. There are really own, and nobody’s going to mistake probably the only thing on which Mr. any number of great people like Stengel, Eddie for one of their own. Wrigley and my dad agreed. I always great characters. I enjoyed When you were young, did you go to thought that Yawkey was very polite, and notwithstanding the fact that you had to minor league games? I could understand why Gussie Busch tip behind his back. And Bob Dylan, Not particularly. I didn’t discover the chose to my dad off. But I think the who sneaks into ballparks and watches joys of minor league baseball really until Griffith family, I kind of like their “aw the games and wrote that song “Catfish.” after the disco – after I blew up those shucks” approach that we’re all in this I think that would be an interesting group disco records and was unceremoniously together. of people. I love writers too. escorted out of the big leagues [Note: Did you collect memorabilia when you How do you think baseball changes in July 12, 1979]. I didn’t realize that were young? the future to make it more compelling causing the forfeiture would insure you No. I collected cards. I was a voracious to the public at large? not getting hired for a while. When card dealer. I early on understood that I don’t think we have to do a whole lot I realized that it was the only way I there were wolves in sheep’s clothing to it. I do think two minutes between could get back into the game I loved, I with memorabilia. innings so they can get an extra 30 discovered it quickly. Doesn’t mean I Right. What about announcers? second spot is corrosive. I think the didn’t go, but I started with the White When you grew up or even later, who music played for players is ridiculous. I Sox and worked 6 years and learned my were the announcers that you loved to think anything you can do to speed it up, trade at that level and endured all the listen to? I think the 20 second clock should be things that you can imagine go along with Chuck Thompson with the Orioles was enforced. I think we should go outside being the owner’s kid. I think one of the great, underrated for our next commissioner. I also think But the problem with disco night announcers of all time. We moved to access is tremendously important. We wasn’t really that you didn’t have a when dad was going to die averaged 8100 people in St. Paul and great idea, you just didn’t really see from a brain tumor so I became a closet we got a new ballpark in our 24th year that it was as great as it was. It was Orioles fan and I just loved listening to last year. The key to the success is to just better than you ever thought it him do ballgames. I got a chance to work be accessible; kids can go down and get 3 A r n a l l Go l d e n G r e g o r y L L P | April 2016 autographs. That’s the problem we have they learned a lot from us folks in minor around the ballpark. It is a little bit to struggle with at the big league level, leagues. I have 10 years of experience old fashioned whereas you know big players have to be accessible and there in the big leagues. I’ve worked for four stadium holds 40-50,000 seats, it really has to become an emotional relationship teams. I don’t want you to think I take is like going to a big city, a bit more of but, like I said, when we figure out the shots at them. a cautious environment to me. turmoil in the world, baseball will rise in The last question I have, and I hope Well, our society has of course changed its pastoral setting. it’s not unfair: Do you think is more and I am not blind to that. Baseball has Well, I had three questions left but you fun today to go to a minor league game something going for it. Baseball has just answered one of them. Tell me, than to a major league game? that lovely kind of feel to it – you get what’s the best food you ever had in Yeah, I do. I get into this beef all the three innings in with your kids, the only the ballpark? time and people always say the same rule we have in any of our ballparks is That’s unfair – I think they do a great job thing to me. They say “You know, that if you complain about a kid we are in Baltimore. I think we did a great job Mike you can do things in St. Paul or probably going to toss you out. See, in the ’70s. We were the first to sell light Charleston, or wherever, and we really you’ve It’s always occurred to me when beer. We were the first to experiment can’t do it.” I say Bill (Murray) and I I go to a minor game or even a spring with food, and I am talking ’76 and ’77. will go to Wrigley Field and he’ll coach training game, which is in a small park, We brought in independent food stands. 1st base, does the laughter sounds any a minor league park – it’s pretty neat Now I think they do a great job. The Red different to you? Instead of having little to see the kids just running recklessly

Sox do a great job with their food. The things in life that happen - you know all around the ballpark. It is a little bit problem is making a distinction always it has to be a profit center. That’s why old fashioned whereas you know big with the price. We owned the ball club it is today more fun to go to a minor stadium holds 40-50,000 seats, it really in Fort Myers, the Miracle, and I sold league game. One thing in their (MLB) is like going to a big city, a bit more my share of it because we had raised our defense I will say, when I started in this of a cautious environment to me.lost ticket prices for 18 times game nobody moved up from the front your sense of humor. Yes, you’re right. in 20 years or some such nonsense and offices of the minor league game to the Society has changed and some things are that’s a problem. That used to be the spot big leagues and now they are raiding horrible, but the fact is that kids get lost where the fans could check in and kids the minors. I think currently there are in a contained environment. Unlike when could get a lot of autographs and you did a number of broadcasters at the major I was young, both of my children grew not have to spend an arm and a leg for league level. So, they look at us now and up in ballparks. Dad encouraged us not it. Now, of course, they are looking for we’ve become a training ground and I to go into the baseball business. I can’t spring training as profit centers. They think that bodes well for baseball. think of a better way for my kids to make spend so much money on these ballparks It’s always occurred to me when I go to their living. and the prices keep going up. That’s a minor game or even a spring training This is absolutely, totally perfect and going to be a problem at some point. game, which is in a small park, a minor I’m very appreciative. Thanks very San Francisco has good food but you’re much. league park – it’s pretty neat to see paying for it. We caught on! I think the kids just running recklessly all

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