Reviving the Art of Baseball Doggerel
A repost for the 10th anniversary…
This is the saga of Battlin’ Mike Barrett,
A tiger of a man with fists of ore.
He’d raise his dukes and take on all comers,
Regardless the color of jersey they wore.
His mighty hands landed many a blow.
He never backed down from a brawl.
But such hardened paws don’t do you much good
When your job’s to be fielding the ball.
Originally published 6/14/07.
For Eddie Lopat, who pitched from 1944-55 with the White Sox, Yankees and Orioles.
Eddie Lopat threw junk that looked fat.
Hitters couldn’t wait to take their at bat,
But the pitch Eddie threw
Hitters always swung through,
‘Cause their bat ain’t where the ball was at.
In baseball, since time began,
Players and clubs never forget.
What you did, you Blue Jay man,
We’ll repay . . . That you can bet.
Bautista must’ve known this
When he faced off with Texas.
His flip of the bat last year
Really burned the Rangers’ ear:
The unwritten code was broken
And some revenge must be taken.
He got plugged and went to first–
That should’ve ended Ranger thirst.
But when he slid hard into second,
Mr. Bautista didn’t reckon
He’d end up in a stadium ring
With Odor, who took the first swing.
Now, of course, it’s all the news
On ESPN, YouTube and other venues.
1BÂ Lefty Herring
2BÂ Rabbit Maranville
SSÂ Oyster Burns
3BÂ Joe Bean
LFÂ Buttercup Dickerson
CFÂ Milky Cabrera
RFÂ Ice Box Chamberlain
CÂ Â Yam Yaryan
LHPÂ William Peppers, Chick Smith
RHPÂ Sweetbread Bailey, Pete Hamm
MGRÂ Rawmeat Rogers