by Michael Ceraolo
Though I had started playing ball
before the fly rule went into effect in ’64,
I earned my unusual nickname,
Death to Flying Things, a few years later
Unlike some later players,
who killed birds with batted or thrown balls,
no living things were harmed
in the earning of my nickname
I got it catching line drives at third base
If you think that’s not enough to earn a nickname,
you should try doing it bare-handed
the way I did
