Larry Doby signs his first contract with Bill Veeck
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Bill Veeck, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, sets up a spring training camp there for the Cleveland Indians after Larry Doby signing

ByThis Day in Baseball

In anticipation of the signing of the team’s first black players, Bill Veeck, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, sets up a spring training camp there for the Cleveland Indians. Arizona is chosen because of its relatively tolerant racial climate. During the season, Veeck will sign the American League’s first black player, Larry Doby, who will train at the camp. The New York Giants also set up camp in Arizona, while the Brooklyn Dodgers move their training camp from Florida to Havana, Cuba.

Surgeons amputate the right foot of Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck

Surgeons amputate the right foot of Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck

ByThis Day in Baseball

1946 – Surgeons amputate the right foot of Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck. Two years before, the colorful executive had suffered a serious injury to his leg in the South Pacific during World War II. Veeck has had a tremendous impact on promotion in a half season of ownership. A minor but typical change is the regular posting of National League scores on the Cleveland scoreboard, a departure from the long-standing practice of both leagues. In spite of the amputation, Veeck will remain an active owner through the 1970s.

bill veeck

Bill Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians, hires Marsh Samuel away from the Sox to create a media guide for the Tribe.

ByTom

The Chicago White Sox hand out the first media guide to beat writers. Just 17 pages long, it is the creation of Marsh Samuel, according to historian Peggy Beck. The project intrigues Bill Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians, who hires Samuel away from the Sox to create a guide for the Tribe.

The late Bill Veeck Sr. is replaced by William Walker as president of the Cubs

ByTom

The late Bill Veeck Sr., a former sports writer who won three pennants (1918, 1929, and 1932) during his reign in Chicago’s front office, is replaced by William Walker as president of the Cubs. The 56 year-old baseball executive, whose son will become a Hall of Fame major league owner, died of leukemia during the World Series last season.