Reviving the Art of Baseball Doggerel
Rickey and Robinson
Reluctant heroes
Attacking baseball’s racial barriers
Equanimity difficult to maintain
In the face of vitriol
From owners
Fans and other players
Persevering
Opening doors
For Willie, Hank
Countless others
Baseball showing the way
A victory
For human rights
Thanks Jackie!
Jose Reyes breaks his foot
Itzuris fielding with his boot
As Melk and Colby fan the breeze
Our hitters bats are made of cheese
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone, or make us watch the Jays.
Dickey’s screwball’s hard to hit
A strange rotation’s built on it
Aside from Janssen they all suck
How’s Buerhle worth 12 million bucks?
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone, or make us watch the Jays.
Now Rogers Centre’s full of jeers
From raucous Gordies sloshing beer
This isn’t how they’re meant to play
But fifth place is where they’ll stay.
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone, or make us watch the Jays.
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone
Leafs, don’t be gone, how can the Leafs now be gone?
Leafs, don’t be gone
Don’t be gone
Don’t be gone
Don’t be gone
Don’t be gone
Across Waveland, they cry they won’t see
The game they now spy on for free
.     Greedy Rickett$ need bucks,
.     So buy tickets, you schmucks!
You can say it’s an an “eye-balling fee”.
A tale of a batter renowned
His exploit will always be known.
While the pitcher was taking the mound,
Our hero struck out on his own.
Shrouded in soft gauzy myth
Jackie Robinson
smiles, uncomplicated–
angry when necessary,
beatific when possible,
surrounded by angels and devils,
not people.
Making Jackie a figure,
instead of a person,
means we don’t have to deal with
what he dealt with.
We can celebrate his triumph,
which by our celebrating it becomes OUR triumph.
Oh, how good we are.