White Sox Fans’ Minute-Long Wedding Features 50-Foot Hot Dog Tribute to Inventive Owner
White Sox Honor Eccentric Former Owner Bill Veeck with Zany Tribute Game
By Alex Raskin, US Sport News Editor, and Associated Press | Updated: 00:59 BST, 11 August 2025
[Image: Two White Sox fans kiss after a 60-second wedding ceremony officiated by Ron Kittle.]
The Chicago White Sox (43-75) paid homage to their late, unconventional owner Bill Veeck on Saturday with a spectacle worthy of his legacy. Amid a challenging season marked by low attendance and potential ownership changes, the team revived Veeck’s signature blend of chaos and charm to entertain fans.
A Night of Mayhem and Memories
The festivities included a pregame petting zoo, circus performers, ice sculpting, free haircuts, and a parade featuring a 50-foot hot dog. The first 15,000 fans received Veeck bobbleheads, while postgame fireworks lit up the sky. The highlight? A “married in a minute” ceremony where two lifelong White Sox fans exchanged vows in 60 seconds, officiated by 1983 AL Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle.
[Image: A 50-foot hot dog rolled through Rate Field during the celebrations.]
Players also joined the fun, donning retro 1976-style pinstriped shorts and collared jerseys during warmups. Mike Veeck, Bill’s son, threw the ceremonial first pitch against Cleveland—a nod to his father’s earlier ownership of the Guardians (1946–49).
Veeck’s Legacy of “Bread and Circuses”
Bill Veeck, who owned the White Sox twice (1959–61, 1975–81), prioritized fan experience over wins. His stunts included MLB’s first exploding scoreboard (1960) and the infamous 1979 “Disco Demolition Night,” which ended in a riot and a forfeited game.
[Image: Police struggled to control crowds during Veeck’s 1979 Disco Demolition Night debacle.]
“You can draw more people with a losing team plus bread and circuses than with a losing team and a long, still silence,” Veeck once said. His creativity extended beyond Chicago: In 1951, as owner of the St. Louis Browns, he signed 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel, whose tiny strike zone led to a walk on four pitches. Veeck later joked he threatened Gaedel with a rifle to ensure he didn’t swing.
[Image: Eddie Gaedel’s 1951 at-bat with the St. Louis Browns.]
A Lasting Impact
Veeck, who died in 1986 and entered the Hall of Fame in 1991, authored the beloved autobiography Veeck as in Wreck. His spirit lived on Saturday as the White Sox blended nostalgia with new quirks—proving even a struggling team can create unforgettable moments.
[Image: Bill Veeck’s iconic quote displayed at Rate Field during the tribute game.]
Despite their 27th-ranked attendance, the White Sox reminded fans that baseball’s magic often lies beyond the scoreboard.
Pictures: Getty Images, Associated Press
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White Sox fans wed in 60 seconds, celebrate with giant hot dog in wild ode to MLB’s master showman
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