Veeck Commentaries

Reel 1

0:06Copy video clip URL Color bars.

0:49Copy video clip URL Camera opens on a still of a wall.

1:02Copy video clip URL Video starts. Bill Veeck is standing in a baseball stadium and talking about the structure of the stadium and how it has changed. He talks about after school programs they ran for kids to learn about and play baseball. He talks about how signing players has changed.

3:50Copy video clip URL The camera moves away and they videotape Veeck walking out of the stadium.

4:19Copy video clip URL The video cuts out.

4:25Copy video clip URL The camera opens on a sports news report that mentions Veeck has created a lottery system for fans to receive World Series tickets.

4:44Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a man interviewing Veeck about baseball traditions. He talks about how left handed players traditionally can’t play some positions, and why he feels that it doesn’t make sense.

7:48Copy video clip URL The video cuts out.

8:04Copy video clip URL The video opens on a woman talking about which sports teams she likes. It quickly transitions to Veeck talking about the opening of the baseball season. He reminisces  and jokes about fun moments in baseball history.

10:30Copy video clip URL The camera cuts back to three other reporters discussing the first game of the season.

10:51Copy video clip URL The camera cuts out, and then to a screen labeling the footage as “A View from the Bleachers with Bill Veeck.”

11:04Copy video clip URL WTTW Chicago introduction. Veeck walking around a stadium on a game day.

11:30Copy video clip URL Veeck talks about his experience with baseball, and the changes in the sport that he has witnessed.

12:47Copy video clip URL An announcer begins to list some statistics about the sport of baseball, but the video cuts and the audio is fast forwarded.

13:04Copy video clip URL The camera opens on Veeck being interviewed about the sport. Veeck talks about heroes of the sport, and says that his is Babe Ruth, and in his youth, Hack Wilson. He then talks about Jackie Robinson, Pete Gray, Satchell Paige, and Joe DiMaggio.

17:04Copy video clip URL Video cuts and reopens on a couple reporters talking about Cubs games. They cut to Veeck talking to fans during a game about seats and the sport.

19:20Copy video clip URL The video cuts to a still shot of a building in downtown Chicago. The camera zooms out and pans to a baseball stadium. Audio of Veeck reading something offscreen. Zoom to Veeck sitting distantly in the bleachers. The camera sequence is repeated.

23:13Copy video clip URL The video cuts and reopens on Veeck talking to the camera in the stadium about advertising. He then discusses beautifying Wrigley Field.

26:18Copy video clip URL The video pauses and restarts. He talks about building concession stands and the getting trapped on a structure during a storm while they were doing construction. He moves to talk about umpires.

29:26Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to an old video of the New York Yankees without audio.

30:06Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to old footage of World Series Games without audio.

32:55Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to old footage of a baseball game and the spectators without audio.

33:21Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a sports news segment that transitions to Veeck talking briefly.

33:49Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a teenager, Benji Wilson, talking about keeping his grades high. The video cuts back to Veeck talking briefly about some famous players.

34:48Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck starting to talk to another man about the popularity of baseball.

35:16Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to an interview with the “oldest batboy.” The camera changes to Veeck talking with a tennis coach about changes.

35:57Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a man talking with Veeck about the business of baseball.

36:36Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck talking with two others about a shot put-like sport that is popular in Europe and Russia. They talk about discus and javelin.

38:57Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck introducing the guests he is talking with in a new segment. They talk about changes in baseball in Chicago, and the enthusiasm of Chicago fans.

41:14Copy video clip URL The camera cuts and Veeck is talking with another man about changes in the sport. They talk about black athletes.

43:27Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck talking to a different man about the changes in baseball and its players.

44:21Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a man talking about basketball briefly, and then immediately cuts back to Veeck talking to a Cubs pitcher about his career. He talks about the impact of spectators.

49:45Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to a brief newscast.

50:04Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck talking with Reggie Jackson about his career, fans, and the sport.

54:20Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to old footage of a player walking off the field with music.

54:44Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to Veeck talking with Tony LaRussa.

55:17Copy video clip URL The camera cuts to sports newscasters that transitions to Veeck talking about the the business of baseball and money in the sports world.

58:35Copy video clip URL The video cuts back to the newscasters, and they again transition to Veeck talking about being “terminated” from the league. He then discusses regulation, advertising, and money.

1:01:46Copy video clip URL The video cuts out.

1:02Copy video clip URL:22 The tape ends.