https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/grandstand
-managers-night
https://tinyurl.com/mfneum72
A quick glance at the box score of the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis
Browns game on Aug. 24, 1951 would suggest that nothing was out of the
ordinary. It seemed to be a typical Friday game, between two teams who were
far out of playoff contention.
你若随便瞄一眼1951年8月24日费城运动家对上圣路易棕人（又译圣路易布朗）的比分
表，你只会觉得那是一场平凡无奇的比赛。乍看之下那就只是一场两支和季后赛无缘
的球队间的周五比赛。
But with Bill Veeck at the helm of the St. Louis Browns, that game was
anything but typical.
但只要圣路易综人是由Bill Veeck掌舵，该比赛就一点也不平凡无奇。
On that day, Veeck orchestrated “Grandstand Managers Night,” a promotion
which allowed fans to vote on key decisions during the course of the game,
using placards which read “yes” or “no.”
那天Veeck筹划了“看台区总仔之夜”。这活动让球迷得以用上面写着“是”或“否”
的板子来投票为比赛中的关键判决做出决定。
Over 1,000 “grandstand managers” sat in a special section behind the Browns
dugout, while Browns manager Zack Taylor relaxed in a rocking chair in the
next box over, in casual clothing and a pipe in his mouth, as he enjoyed his
night off.
超过一千名“看台区总仔”坐在棕人休息区后方的特殊区域，而正牌总仔Zack Taylo则
是穿着便服、口叼菸斗一边坐在隔壁包厢的摇椅上一边享受他的假期。
The fans began their short-lived managerial careers by deciding the lineup of
the game. They wrote their choices on lineup cards, delivered to the Browns
prior to the game. After tallying fan responses, a lineup was decided on.
球迷们以决定打序作为他们短暂执教生涯的序幕。他们于赛前在打线卡上写下他们的选
择并呈交到棕人队手上。而当夜打线就由球迷投票的统计结果决定。
Philadelphia Athletics’ manager Jimmy Dykes was far from amused, telling the
Associated Press that Veeck was “making a farce of the game.”
费城运动家队的总仔Jimmy Dykes对此感到不以为然，他对美联社表示Veeck根本“蔑视
比赛”。
But the controversial Veeck saw his promotions as a way to raise fan
experience to a whole new level. He would later explain to Sports Illustrated
that, “the fan comes away from the ball park with nothing more to show for
it than what’s in his mind, an ephemeral feeling of having been entertained.
You’ve got to heighten and preserve that illusion. You have to give him more
vivid pictures to carry away in his head.”
但充满争议性的Veeck认为他搞的宣传活动是一个将球迷进场的体验提升到全新境界的
方式。他日后会向运动画刊解释道“球迷大老远来看球就只是为了要为了被短暂地娱乐
到。你必须要将那感觉提升并加以保存。你必须在他脑海中烙下更生动的画面让他满载
而归。”
Just five days earlier, on Aug. 19, 1951, Veeck had stunned the baseball
world and delighted fans by sending 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel up to bat in a game
against the Tigers.
就在五天前的1951年8月19日，Veeck派上3呎7寸（约1.1米）的Eddie Gaedel上场面对
老虎队打击，震惊了棒坛也取悦了球迷。
It’s safe to say that the “grand stand managers,” as well as the 6,000
other fans who watched on as the fate of the game was decided by spectators,
walked away with vivid pictures.
你可以很放心地说那些“看台区总仔”和其他6000多名亲眼见证到观众左右比赛的球迷
们，当晚的确是满载而归。
All things considered, the managers didn’t do a bad job, as the majority of
their decisions were the right ones. They ruled for the Browns infield to
play back and try for a double play when there were two men on base for the
Athletics – and Pete Suder hit into a double play to end the inning.
整体而言，这些总仔干的还不错，因为他们大部分的决策都是对的。他们在运动家队有
两人在垒时裁示棕人队内野抓双杀－而Pete Suder随后击出结束该半局的双杀打。
They also advised catcher Sherm Lollar not to attempt a steal from first base
to second, due to his slow speed. Lollar would drive in two runs that game.
他们也建议速度不快的捕手Sherm Lollar不要试图从一垒盗上二垒。Lollar该赛会打下
两分打点。
After a shaky first inning during which starting pitcher Ned Garver gave up
three runs, he would hold the Athletics to those three until the end of the
game, with the assistance of the “grandstand managers.” The Browns would
win the game 5-3, raising their record to 38-81.
多亏了这些“看台区总仔”的协助，在经过首局失三分的乱流后，先发投手Ned Garver
直到比赛结束都没有再失分。而棕人队就以5比3赢得比赛，并让他们的战绩提升到38胜
81负。
The night concluded with a fireworks show that wrote out “Thanks G.S.
managers for a swell job. Zack manages tomorrow.”
那晚以写着“感谢看台区总仔的功劳。明天Zack执教。”的烟火秀画下句点。
Veeck’s 45 year-long career would be anything but dull, as he signed the
first African-American player in the American League, the first – and last
– midget in all of baseball, and held a “Disco Demolition Night.” But
while these promotions pushed the game to new limits, they also kept the fans
interested by creating new ways to enjoy the National Pastime.
Veeck的45年生涯可谓多采多姿：他签下了美联的第一位非裔美籍球员、棒球史上第一位
也是最后一位的侏儒、他也举办了“迪斯可炸裂夜”。但这些宣传活动除了将比赛推向
新的境界，它们也借由创造更多享受这“国家消遣娱乐”的方式来让球迷保持新鲜感。
As Hank Greenberg once said, Veeck “brought baseball into the 20th century.
Before Bill, baseball was just win or lose. But he made it fun to be at the
ballpark.”
就像Hank Greenberg曾说的，Veeck“将棒球带进20世纪。在Bill之前棒球纯粹只有胜负
可言。但他让进场观战这件事变得有趣。”
Veeck passed away on Jan. 2, 1986. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991.
Veeck于1986年1月2日逝世。他于1991年入选为名人堂成员。