I loved Veeck's line about how they had to get a "special license" from the city to pull off the pole relocation with him on it. Like, what license-issuing department would ever approve this?
I found some footage of the journey--some of the narration here is incorrect and conflates events, but you can certainly see what the trip was like for Lupica, and the moment when he came down. That truck seemed to be going pretty fast, too. I have to remind myself this is the seatbelts-optional generation.
What a great column. I'd read about Lupica's stunt many times, but never in such detail.
IIRC at some point in the 50's a Washington Senators fan climbed a pole and vowed to stay there until the Nats had climbed out of last place, but then backed off after realizing it was hopeless. This may be just a rumor that originated in my mind, but I don't think so. Nats fans in the 50's had far more modest hopes than Lupica.
I might just have to track that down, Andy, good tip. A quick story about a guy that came to their senses quickly would be a good contrast to have to Lupica's successful marathon.
Hygiene was mostly left unaddressed in the newspaper records I used, but I trust the Cleveland Sanitary Police required the bucket to have no holes and to be raised and lowered by a sturdy piece of rope.
And so well-written. It has a few slow patches, and Veeck doesn't always talk about what you want him to talk about, but he delivers on all the essential stuff. The section on Satchel Paige is just a treasure.
Good to know. I've had Hustler's Handbook on my list but maybe I'll put "Thirty Tons" there instead. After he left the White Sox in the early 1980s he talked about a third book he was working on, covering his second stint with the team at the advent of free agency. He called it "A View From the Bleachers" (and made a TV show with the same name) but as far as I know nothing from that project ever saw the light of day. I'd take that book over the next Game of Thrones book in a heartbeat.
Moving the flagpole with him on it - that was insane! Wow. What a story! Thanks for this!
I loved Veeck's line about how they had to get a "special license" from the city to pull off the pole relocation with him on it. Like, what license-issuing department would ever approve this?
Right? And picturing him ducking under the phone lines! Hysterical!
I found some footage of the journey--some of the narration here is incorrect and conflates events, but you can certainly see what the trip was like for Lupica, and the moment when he came down. That truck seemed to be going pretty fast, too. I have to remind myself this is the seatbelts-optional generation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1r4h0kopxg&t=2s
That is amazing. Thanks for sharing it with me.
What a great column. I'd read about Lupica's stunt many times, but never in such detail.
IIRC at some point in the 50's a Washington Senators fan climbed a pole and vowed to stay there until the Nats had climbed out of last place, but then backed off after realizing it was hopeless. This may be just a rumor that originated in my mind, but I don't think so. Nats fans in the 50's had far more modest hopes than Lupica.
I might just have to track that down, Andy, good tip. A quick story about a guy that came to their senses quickly would be a good contrast to have to Lupica's successful marathon.
Great ‘Stack, Paul!
Great story, Paul. After 117 days, that was likely quite a foul pole.
Hygiene was mostly left unaddressed in the newspaper records I used, but I trust the Cleveland Sanitary Police required the bucket to have no holes and to be raised and lowered by a sturdy piece of rope.
Now THAT’S a true fan!! Gotta give him credit!
Any baseball fan who hasn't yet read "Veeck As In Wreck", you're missing an opportunity for many good laughs.
And so well-written. It has a few slow patches, and Veeck doesn't always talk about what you want him to talk about, but he delivers on all the essential stuff. The section on Satchel Paige is just a treasure.
True. Read the sequel too which was up and down but also did have some real highlights.
The Veeck book that I’d rank just a small notch below “As In Wreck” is about his misadventures owning a horse track. “Thirty Tons A Day”, great fun.
Good to know. I've had Hustler's Handbook on my list but maybe I'll put "Thirty Tons" there instead. After he left the White Sox in the early 1980s he talked about a third book he was working on, covering his second stint with the team at the advent of free agency. He called it "A View From the Bleachers" (and made a TV show with the same name) but as far as I know nothing from that project ever saw the light of day. I'd take that book over the next Game of Thrones book in a heartbeat.
What?! So crazy!!
Was it the ambulance visit? The dental appointment? Could really be anything, I suppose.
I think it was the wife-having-a-baby-without-you but that tipped me over the edge
Me too. I loved the line about how he'd convinced the family that his extended absence would be good for everybody, even in the third trimester.