Bill Veeck, who would make instrumental and monumental contributions to the game of baseball, is born in Chicago, Illinois.

Veeck, the son of the former president of the Chicago Cubs, worked his way up through the baseball ranks doing odds jobs for the team, including vending, ticket sales, groundskeeping, and working as club treasurer. He attended night school to earn his degree despite never graduating high school.

He purchased the minor league Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1941 in a partnership with former Cubs player and manager Charlie Grimm before joining the Marines during World War II, where he lost part of his foot.

Following his return from the war, Veeck purchased the Cleveland Indians in 1946 and held on to them through the 1949 season, when his shares of the club were sold as part of his divorce. He would later have ownership stakes in the St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox organizations.

Veeck died in 1986 and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.