Reddit reviews Veeck As In Wreck: The Autobiography of Bill Veeck

• The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract This book will give you a great overview of the game from 1870 to 1999. Breaks the game down by decades and what the game was like and how it changed. Also ranks the top 100 players at each position. Really anything by James is an entertaining read, but this is the must have for baseball conversation.
  
• Baseball Prospectus - Baseball Between the Numbers A good introductory course into the newer sabrmetrics. It will answer many questions in depth about what was going on as far as player evaluation in Moneyball.
  
• Tom Tango - The Book Much more advanced sabrmetrics but very current and groundbreaking. The author started on the internet, and last offseason secured a job working for the Seattle Mariners.
  
  The next three are to give you a better view of the game from the players/owners perspective.
  
  
• Veeck as in Wreck Bill Veeck was one hell of a guy. His father was president of the Cubs in the 30's, and Bill would go on to own his fair share of teams. Always an individual, he stood against the baseball ownership cabal on many occasions. Spent the last years of his life watching the Cubs from the center field bleachers. His autobiography is humorous and insightful. A must read for any baseball fan.
  
• Buck O'Neil - I was Right on Time Called the soul of negro league baseball, Buck O'Neil recounts his playing days in the negro leagues, and covers many of the legends in a very matter of fact way.
  
• Jim Bouton - Ball Four Last but not least is former Yankee star, now washed up knuckleballer Jim Bouton recalling the inaugural season of the short lived Seattle Pilots. Baseball players in all their vulgar glory. Also will teach you the fine art of "shooting beaver".

A few other recommendations:

Victory Season

Veeck as in Wreck

Between the Numbers

Cardboard Gods

Here's his autobiography

And Bill is the reason the Tribe has Chief Wahoo. His autobiography, Veeck as in Wreck is a fantastic read. I suggest it to everyone! Murray has a screenplay where he would play Bill, but it never got made. (#7 on list). Last I heard it was because baseball movies are a tough sell in foreign markets.

This guy used his as an ashtray.

He also wins the "best autobiography title ever" category, I'd say.

The one I recommend to everyone is The Baseball Fan's Companion, it is unfortunately out of print but easy to find used. I'd also recommend:

The Glory of their Times by Lawrence Ritter

Veeck as in Wreck by Bill Veeck

Stolen Season by David Lamb

Can't Anybody Here Play this Game by Jimmy Breslin

The Wrong Stuff and Have Glove Will Travel by Bill Lee

You Gotta Have Wa by Robert Whiting