Latest news with #BillVeeck
Time of India
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ron Kittle leads unforgettable one-minute wedding for White Sox fans during fun-filled night with a 50-foot hot dog
Ron Kittle leads unforgettable one-minute wedding for White Sox fans during fun-filled night with a 50-foot hot dog (Image via Getty) On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox turned a regular baseball game into one of the most unusual nights of the season. At Rate Field in Chicago, two lifelong White Sox fans got married in just one minute. The ceremony was done right there in front of the crowd by Ron Kittle, the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year. Fans also saw a 50-foot hot dog, a petting zoo, ice sculptors, a circus clown, and even free haircuts. Before the game against the Cleveland Guardians, Mike Veeck, son of the late Bill Veeck, threw the ceremonial first pitch. Ron Kittle officiates one-minute wedding for Chicago White Sox fans The night was called Bill Veeck Night, in honor of the White Sox's past owner who was famous for wild and creative ideas to keep fans entertained. Near home plate, Ron Kittle stood with the happy couple and swiftly walked them through their pledges. They were lawfully married in less than sixty seconds. The audience applauded wildly; the couple gave a brief kiss before departing the pitch. It was a great tribute to Bill Veeck's lighthearted approach, which frequently shocked supporters with amusing tricks. Mike Veeck leads Bill Veeck night with 50-foot hot dog and pinstriped shorts Mike Veeck helped start the evening's fun by throwing the first pitch. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Around the ballpark, fans took photos with the massive 50-foot hot dog, petted animals in the pregame zoo, and watched artists carve ice sculptures in the outfield concourse. Also Read: Texas Rangers face fierce outrage after honoring Josh Hamilton accused of assaulting daughter The first 15,000 fans who entered got a Bill Veeck bobblehead to take home. After the game, fireworks were planned to light up the Chicago night. Even the players joined in the fun. They warmed up wearing pinstriped shorts and collared tops, just like the uniforms worn in 1976 during Bill Veeck's ownership. Back then, he tried many unusual ideas, from an exploding scoreboard in 1960 to the famous 'Disco Demolition Night' in 1979. Bill Veeck, who passed away in 1986 and entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, was remembered not just for baseball but for making games a joyful show for everyone in the stands. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Daily Mail
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
White Sox fans get married in a MINUTE and celebrate with 50-foot hot dog in ode to MLB's most inventive owner
It's been an odd season for the Chicago White Sox, what with the team's potential sale and confirmed South Sider and diehard fan Robert Prevost being named Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Amidst it all, the 43-75 White Sox have once again struggled to draw fans and currently rank just 27th in attendance. So it was rather fitting on Saturday night that the team celebrated its quirky late owner Bill Veeck with the kinds of stunts he popularized while struggling to draw fans to Comiskey Park. There was a pregame petting zoo and a roving circus with — what else? — a clown to entertain fans entering Rate Field, which replaced Comiskey in 1991. There was ice sculpting on the concourse in the outfield and a chance to get a photo taken with a 50-foot hot dog, along with an offer of free haircuts. The first 15,000 fans received a Veeck bobblehead, and postgame fireworks were planned. Another highlight was what the team described as a 'married in a minute' event, with two White Sox fans tying the knot in a 60-second ceremony officiated by 1983 American League Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle. Mike Veeck, Bill's son, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday before the White Sox took on Cleveland, a team the elder Veeck owned from 1946-1949. The fun wasn't limited to fans in the stands. White Sox players turned back the clock by wearing pinstriped shorts during pregame warmups and batting practice. The team wore those unusual shorts — along with collared uniform tops — for some games during the 1976 season. Bill Veeck was a two-time owner of the White Sox, first from 1959-61 and again from 1975-81. His tenure was marked by memorable and forgettable stunts to enhance the fans' game-day experience through entertainment. His stunts included an exploding scoreboard in 1960 and a disastrous disco demolition night in 1979, when a crate of disco records was blown up between games of a doubleheader. The playing surface at Comiskey Field was so damaged by the blast and fans who rushed the field after the stunt that Chicago was forced to forfeit the second game to Detroit. Another of his famous acts was signing 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to be a pinch hitter in 1951, when Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, who had a miniscule strike zone, walked on four pitches. Later Veeck shared the threat he made to Gaedel to ensure his 26-year-old rookie wouldn't swing at a single pitch. 'I was a marksman in the Marine Corps in the war, Eddie,' Veeck said, as reported by Earl Gustkey in 1991. 'I'm going to be up in the press Box with a high-powered rifle. If you even look like you're going to swing at a pitch, so help me God I'll shoot you right between the eyes.' Veeck died in 1986 at 71 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. His autobiography, 'Veeck as in Wreck' remains one of the most celebrated books ever written on the business of baseball.
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
White Sox celebrate showman Bill Veeck with wedding, 50-foot hot dog, petting zoo at ballgame
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox threw a party that would have made Bill Veeck proud. The club celebrated its quirky former owner with Bill Veeck Night on Saturday by bringing back some of the stunts, tricks and exhibitions that added to the lore of the legendary showman and Hall of Famer. There was a pregame petting zoo and a roving circus with — what else? — a clown to entertain fans entering Rate Field. There was ice sculpting on the concourse in the outfield and a chance to get a photo taken with a 50-foot hot dog, along with an offer of free haircuts. The first 15,000 fans received a Veeck bobblehead, and postgame fireworks were planned. Another highlight was what the team described as a 'married in a minute' event, with two White Sox fans tying the knot in a 60-second ceremony officiated by 1983 American League Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle. Mike Veeck, Bill's son, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday before the White Sox took on Cleveland, a team the elder Veeck owned from 1946-1949. The fun wasn't limited to fans in the stands. White Sox players turned back the clock by wearing pinstriped shorts during pregame warmups and batting practice. The team wore those unusual shorts — along with collared uniform tops — for some games during the 1976 season. Bill Veeck was a two-time owner of the White Sox, first from 1959-61 and again from 1975-81. His tenure was marked by memorable and forgettable stunts to enhance the fans' game-day experience through entertainment. His stunts included an exploding scoreboard in 1960 and a disastrous disco demolition night in 1979, when a crate of disco records was blown up between games of a doubleheader. The playing surface at Comiskey Field was so damaged by the blast and fans who rushed the field after the stunt that Chicago was forced to forfeit the second game to Detroit. Another of his famous acts was signing 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to be a pinch hitter in 1951, when Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, who had a miniscule strike zone, walked on four pitches. Veeck died in 1986 at 71 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
White Sox celebrate showman Bill Veeck with wedding, 50-foot hot dog, petting zoo at ballgame
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox threw a party that would have made Bill Veeck proud. The club celebrated its quirky former owner with Bill Veeck Night on Saturday by bringing back some of the stunts, tricks and exhibitions that added to the lore of the legendary showman and Hall of Famer. There was a pregame petting zoo and a roving circus with — what else? — a clown to entertain fans entering Rate Field. There was ice sculpting on the concourse in the outfield and a chance to get a photo taken with a 50-foot hot dog, along with an offer of free haircuts. The first 15,000 fans received a Veeck bobblehead, and postgame fireworks were planned. Another highlight was what the team described as a 'married in a minute' event, with two White Sox fans tying the knot in a 60-second ceremony officiated by 1983 American League Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle. Mike Veeck, Bill's son, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday before the White Sox took on Cleveland, a team the elder Veeck owned from 1946-1949. The fun wasn't limited to fans in the stands. White Sox players turned back the clock by wearing pinstriped shorts during pregame warmups and batting practice. The team wore those unusual shorts — along with collared uniform tops — for some games during the 1976 season. Bill Veeck was a two-time owner of the White Sox, first from 1959-61 and again from 1975-81. His tenure was marked by memorable and forgettable stunts to enhance the fans' game-day experience through entertainment. His stunts included an exploding scoreboard in 1960 and a disastrous disco demolition night in 1979, when a crate of disco records was blown up between games of a doubleheader. The playing surface at Comiskey Field was so damaged by the blast and fans who rushed the field after the stunt that Chicago was forced to forfeit the second game to Detroit. Another of his famous acts was signing 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to be a pinch hitter in 1951, when Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, who had a miniscule strike zone, walked on four pitches. Veeck died in 1986 at 71 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
White Sox celebrate showman Bill Veeck with wedding, 50-foot hot dog, petting zoo at ballgame
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox threw a party that would have made Bill Veeck proud. The club celebrated its quirky former owner with Bill Veeck Night on Saturday by bringing back some of the stunts, tricks and exhibitions that added to the lore of the legendary showman and Hall of Famer. There was a pregame petting zoo and a roving circus with — what else? — a clown to entertain fans entering Rate Field. There was ice sculpting on the concourse in the outfield and a chance to get a photo taken with a 50-foot hot dog, along with an offer of free haircuts. The first 15,000 fans received a Veeck bobblehead, and postgame fireworks were planned. Another highlight was what the team described as a 'married in a minute' event, with two White Sox fans tying the knot in a 60-second ceremony officiated by 1983 American League Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle. Veeck's son, Mike, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the White Sox took on the Cleveland Guardians. The fun wasn't limited to fans in the stands. White Sox players turned back the clock by wearing pinstriped shorts during pregame warmups and batting practice. The team wore those unusual shorts — along with collared uniform tops — for some games during the 1976 season. Veeck was a two-time owner of the White Sox, first from 1959-61 and again from 1975-81. His tenure was marked by memorable and forgettable stunts to enhance the fans' game-day experience through entertainment. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. His stunts included an exploding scoreboard in 1960 and a disastrous disco demolition night in 1979, when a crate of disco records was blown up between games of a doubleheader. The playing surface at Comiskey Field was so damaged by the blast and fans who rushed the field after the stunt that Chicago was forced to forfeit the second game to Detroit. Another of his famous acts was signing 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to be a pinch hitter in 1951, when Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, who had a miniscule strike zone, walked on four pitches. Veeck died in 1986 at 71 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. ___ AP MLB:
