"The true harbinger of spring is not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of the bat on the ball." -- Bill Veeck

We now interrupt our wildcat strike against Mother Nature to mark a very important date: Bill Veeck's birthday. "Sport Shirt Bill" would have been 94.

Here at CBRAT Headquarters, Bill Veeck's birthday is a major holiday. Although we prefer to observe another of Bill's wise sayings: "Every day a Holiday; Every fan -- Supreme!"



This is perhaps the earliest image of Veeck that I can personally remember -- Opening Day at Comiskey Park, 1976, with Bicentennial Fever heavy on the hypothalamuses of all red-blooded American boys, a young Stronger Than Dirt Pete Moss being no exception.

Also seen, and also noteworthy, in this photo is Veeck's right-hand man, Rudie Schaffer, playing the drum. Rudie died last November 27 at the age of 96.

So. Happy Bill Veeck's Birthday to you and yours. The groundhog might have let us down again this year, but Bill's birthday is an irrefutable sign that spring is on the way. Because, as Bill said, "There are only two seasons -- Winter and Baseball." And -- finally -- here comes Baseball.

Just six days to go till White Sox pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. The Cubs start two days earlier, because ... they need all the time they can get.

POSTSCRIPT:

In other birthday news of today's birthdays, it's Joe Ely's birthday today! It's a double holiday!



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