BOISE, Idaho — This Day In Sports…August 19, 1951:

One of the most famous promotional stunts in major league history (though it was just another day at the office for Bill Veeck). The St. Louis Browns owner, who would later mastermind several infamous stunts with the Chicago White Sox, was looking for ways to boost sagging attendance at Sportsman’s Park. So Veeck sent 3-foot-7-inch, 65-pound Eddie Gaedel to the plate in a home game against the Detroit Tigers.

According to the Society for Professional Baseball Research, Veeck selected Gaedel for the stunt after a painstaking search. Veeck’s traveling secretary drove to Chicago to pick up Gaedel, and once they got near the hotel, he had Gaedel hide under blankets to preserve the secret appearance. He was given a Browns uniform that had

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