by Hilary Barta
How well can most newbies absorb
The pressure of hitting the orb?
By wags we are told
They’ll flag and they’ll fold–
Don’t tell the young rookie called “Schwarbs.”
“Hope” is the thing with pennants
by Paul Kocak
With apologies to Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with pennants –
That perches on the heart –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – till done –
And sweetest – in the Yard – is heard –
And sore must be the arm –
The tiny splash of one ball’s arc
Scribing wingèd Victory –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the foggiest Cove –
That – never – in Eternity,
Did three-ringed Giants swoon – nor fold.
Paul Kocak is the author of Baseball’s Starry Night: Reliving Major League Baseball’s 2011 Wild Card Night of Shock and Awe, which Doris Kearns Goodwin called “a magical book about a magical night.” He followed this with World Serious: One San Francisco Giants Fan’s 2012 Pilgrimage. He is completing a memoir on his life as a Giants fan.
Puck is Gone
by Stephen Jones
Yogi Berra Dies at 90
Around here, suddenly,
It got late early.
The dugout now is empty,
But not his life and legacy.
Yogi
by Raphael Badagliacca
Now that we’ve grown up
You are the one we want to be
Always steady under pressure
Famous for coming through
Quoted by senators and presidents
Comfortable in your celebrity,
Wearing it like an old shoe.
From the collection The Yogi Poems and Other Celebrations of Local Baseball, which can be purchased here.
The Luckiest Yankee
by the Village Elliott
For Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra (5/5/25-9/23/15)
“Yogi can fall in an open manhole on Broadway and “My Man” will crawl out wearing three MVP rings.”– Casey Stengel
Berra’s luck helped Yanks win on D-Day,
Then helped Yankees win 10 crowns with play.
Didn’t say all that he said,
Like “Ain’t over till dead”.
Now it’s over; what would Yogi say?