Exploding Scoreboards and Other Gimmicks That Have Shaped the Game

   Baseball has always been a game grounded in tradition, and it has been played basically the same way since the 1800's.  Players gain respect from each other and the fans for being hard-nosed, tough, and by playing the game the way that it should be played.  The managers and coaches are admired for being "old school" baseball guys.  However, as time goes by, and the rules and the game evolve, there is that special place for the characters and innovators that make the National Pastime so intriguing.  Many ideas, such as the designated hitter, free agency, and interleague play have become part of the game today.  Then there are the other, sometimes notorious, ideas and gimmicks that have become part of the folklore that adds spirit, and color to an "old school" game.
   One of the free spirits in baseball was Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck.  He introduced the first "exploding" scoreboard to the game when one was installed in Comiskey Park, the former home of the Chicago White Sox.  The scoreboard was created in 1960, and featured pinwheels on the top, and different electrical and sound effects.  The most notable feature, however, was how it would set off fireworks each time a White Sox player hit a home run. 
   The same Bill Veeck who introduced the "exploding" scoreboard to Major League Baseball, also used 3 foot 7 inch Eddie Gaedel for a pinch hit appearance in 1951, as owner of the St. Louis Browns.  Twenty six year old Gaedel was sent up to the plate as a promotional stunt wearing number 1/8.  He was walked on four pitches, was promptly pinch-run for, and that ended his major league playing career.  Even though this stunt was declared to be "not in the best interest of baseball," Gadel's 1/8 Browns jersey is displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  Another stunt, as the owner of the St. Louis Browns, also took place in 1951.  Veeck let 1,115 fans, seated behind the Browns dugout, make decisions during that days contest.  The "grandstand managers" made calls during the game using either "yes" or "no" flashcards whenever the Browns coaches presented them with questions pertaining to the strategy.  The fans decided to warm up relief pitchers and even benched two Browns players.  Veeck also installed showers behind the speaker horns at Comiskey Park for fans to cool off on hot summer days, introduced the picnic area to baseball, and no White Sox fan could ever forget Disco Demolition Night at the stadium.
   "The Night Disco Died" occurred on July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park.  A crate full of disco records was blown up on the field, and spurred a riot that caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers.  This event proved to be one of the most notorious promotional events since the Cleveland Indians hosted "Ten Cent Beer Night" in 1974.
   Many other gimmicks introduced to the game of baseball are still in use today.  For instance, what would a trip to a Phillies game be like without the Phillie Phanatic and his zany performances throughout.  Other ideas have become a part of baseball's past.  The bullpen vehicle became part of the game in 1951 and was used until the Milwaukee Brewers drove baseball's last relief pitcher to the mound on a Harley Davidson with a sidecar in 1995.  Then, there was Marge Schott's St. Bernard with the Reds, and Charlie Finley's mule, Charlie-O, with the Athletics.  Finley also introduced a mechanical rabbit with a basket, named "Harvey", to pop out of the ground, and provide the home plate umpire with baseballs during a game, and a pitch clock to keep the game moving.  Whether any of the gimmicks and promotions were well received, or found to be "not in the best interest of baseball," is irrelevant.  From 3 foot 7 inch Eddie Gaedel in 1951, to the big, green Phanatic in Philly, promotions and gimmicks have always been part of the game.  They give color to the line score, and provide great stories to be passed on from generation to generation.