While there, Veeck played on the school's baseball team and also coached football and basketball.
Veeck began his professional career in 1930 when he joined the minor-league Chicago Giants for $75 per month. After appearing in only one game with Chicago, Veeck caught on with the National League's Cincinnati Reds in 1931. Playing center field for Cincinnati's second-division team, he garnered attention with his daring behavior.
One time he stole home plate while playing for the Reds' Class C minor league affiliate in South Bend, Indiana. He also ran into trouble with opponents by intentionally walking opponents to see if they would take their walks or not. Veeck's antics made him into an instant celebrity.
In 1933, he joined the Boston Braves as a backup outfielder and occasional pinch hitter for Eddie Collins . After playing only 87 games that year, he was traded to Milwaukee for veteran outfielder Bucky Walters . The following year, Veeck scored a career-high 116 runs and earned a reputation as one of the best base runners in baseball.
In 1935, Veeck was sent to St. Louis where he played third base. There he developed a friendship with Joe Garagiola , who became a broadcaster after his playing days ended.
In 1940, Veeck became manager of the American League's Cleveland Indians .
He had previously been offered a managerial position by then Cleveland owner Bill Veeck , but turned it down because his wife objected to moving to Cleveland from Chicago. In 1941, Veeck started "The Sporting News" magazine , which quickly became one of America's most respected sports publications . In 1942, after being demoted from assistant manager to third-base coach, Veeck accepted a front office job with the Brooklyn Dodgers .
He filled this position until 1945 when he was named general manager of the Boston Red Sox . With Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey , Veeck also launched Saturday afternoon games at Fenway Park during World War II .
Veeck left Boston in 1948 and began managing again for several years after that with several teams including Pittsburgh (the Pirates), Philadelphia (the Phillies), Baltimore (
