By Jonathan Eig
For Ken Holtzman
If He had led us through a century without a World Series triumph, it would have been enough.
If He had led us through a century without a World Series triumph and not allowed Hippo Vaughn to lose a no-hit game in 1917, it would have been enough.
If He had allowed Hippo Vaughn to lose a no-hit game and not given us the idiot P.K. Wrigley, it would have been enough.
If He had given us the idiot Wrigley and not banished Grover Cleveland Alexander to the St. Louis Cardinals, it would have been enough.
If He had banished Grover Alexander to the Cardinals and not sent Babe Ruth’s called shot into the center-field bleachers, it would have been enough.
If He had sent Babe Ruth’s called shot into the bleachers and not blinded us to the availability of a minor-league outfielder named Joe DiMaggio, it would have been enough.
If He had blinded us to the availability of Joe DiMaggio and not cursed us with the goat, it would have been enough.
If He had cursed us with the goat and not given us the College of Coaches, it would have been enough.
If he had given us the College of Coaches and not cast out Lou Brock to St. Louis, it would have been enough.
If He had cast out Lou Brock and not showered blessings upon the Mets in the summer of 1969, it would have been enough.
If He had showered blessings upon the Mets in the summer of 1969 and not directed a ground ball through Leon Durham’s legs, it would have been enough.
If He had directed the ball through Durham’s legs and not sent forth Greg Maddux to Atlanta, it would have been enough.
If He had sent forth Greg Maddux to Atlanta and not delivered unto us the prophet Steve Bartman, it would have been enough.
If He had delivered unto us the prophet Bartman and not made clumsy the hands of shortstop Alex Gonzalez, it would have been enough.
If He had made clumsy the hands of Alex Gonzalez and not sent the plague of loud salsa music from Sosa’s boom box, it would have been enough.
If He had sent the plague of salsa music and not rendered feeble the arms of Prior and Wood, it would have been enough.
If He had rendered feeble the arms of Prior and Wood and not given us Sam Zell, it would have been enough.
If He had given us Sam Zell and not smote Geremi Gonzalez with a lightning bolt, it would have been enough.
For all these things we say Dayenu. It would have been enough. Really.
And let us all say, Amen.
Jonathan Eig is the New York Times Best-selling author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season.
Posted 6/26/08