Veecking Havoc

While the Minnesota Twins have had trouble giving away seats for a dollar, the neighboring St. Paul Saints of the independent Northern League have regularly been playing to packed houses at 6,311-seat Midway Stadium. The Saints' success is due to the promotional wizardry of team president Mike Veeck, whose Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979 ignited a stampede of rowdies onto the field and resulted in one of the few forfeits in major league history. Here are Veeck's most recent brainchildren.

SAY HEY, TOMMY EDISON NIGHT
S�ance held to commune with the incandescent spirit of the man responsible for night baseball.

TWO DEAD FAT GUYS NIGHT
Babe Ruth and Elvis impostors marked the day both blimps died.

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, WHERE ARE YOU? NIGHT
Hometown writer who disliked baseball feted with a reading from The Diamond as Big as the Ritz.

SALUTE TO THE MAN ON THE MOON NIGHT
On the 25th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's moon walk, a helicopter landed in the outfield and unloaded Star Trek mutants.

MARY TYLER MOORE NIGHT
MTM look-alikes among the fans threw their hats in the air like the Twin Cities' favorite daughter.

MIME-O-VISION NIGHT
In lieu of Diamond Vision, mimes cavorted on the dugouts to re-create game action; they were escorted from field after being pelted with hot dogs.

CALL IN SICK DAY
Fans were encouraged to cut work; team faxed excuses to their bosses.