For Jim Price (1941-2023)

by Stuart Shea

Curve—yellow hammer—breaks down hard
Can the pitcher keep it in the yard?
Was it tougher to catch a pitch
From Mickey Lolich
Or to scaffold Ernie Harwell’s last act?

Now a voice of memory is stilled,
But promises were fulfilled.
He won a ring. He did his thing.
Known from Marquette to Flint,
His life’s work a flash, a glint,
A wind wafting through dozens of summers.

Stu Shea, the co-founder of Bardball, is the author of numerous books, including Calling the Game: Baseball Broadcasting from 1920 to the Present.

Sonnet for Late Innings

by Kevin Canfield

In the nineteen seventies, relievers
Climbed to an elevated echelon
Heat throwers and inventive deceivers
Their names formed a wholly new lexicon

Goose, Tug, the Mad Hungarian, Sparky
Esteemed, oft-mustachioed game-enders
The vanguard of bullpen hierarchy
Chucking sliders, heaters, splitters, benders

Starting in ’76, an award—
Sponsored by Rolaids, ace heartburn stopper—
Ensured they were never again ignored
The trophy? A gold firefighter’s topper

Check out pics of the era’s top savers
Sideburns, beards, goatees—infrequent shavers

Kevin Canfield is a Mets fan who has canceled cable until football season. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publications.

 

Field of Dreams (1989)

by Bob McKenty

This “Field of Dreams” was once a field of corn
Until a voice mysteriously sends
Kinsella on a quest. A ballfield’s born:
Necropolis for Shoeless Joe and friends.
More voices. Off to Boston to enlist,
If necessary, kidnap (petty crime).
A surly writer (Sixties activist).
They’ll cross the country and the bounds of time
To give dead Moonlight Graham his first at-bat
Against a big-league pro. Emergency!
Doc Graham to the rescue. Who is that
(The catcher)? Looks familiar. Can it be…?!
A corny story certainly. So why
Does “Wanna have a catch, Dad?” make me cry?

 

Max Carey

by Michael Ceraolo

When I played,
my claim to fame was stealing bases;
I even patented sliding pads
Later,
when I was involved in the girls’ game,
I winced every time a player
had to slide in those skirts
We should have let them wear baseball pants