by Stephen Jones
With his smile and electric arm
He put Mets-ville on the map.
Boy of Summer, Hall of Famer –
Simply put: he was Tom Terrific.
100-Year Anniversary
by Stephen Jones
Too much to say, briefly,
About the Negro Leagues
And 100-year anniversary,
But one word,
One word of history –
Like a diamond legacy,
Despite past society –
Is a jewel
In the field of green dreams:
Empowerment.
Abbreviation Up First
by Stephen Jones
Baseball now “Speedball”
A 60-game season
Who has time to breathe?
As a Fan
by Stephen Jones
As a fan, I used to think:
Baseball was all-embracing,
Had its arms wrapped my psyche,
But now, now I wonder:
Is “moneyball” and greed
Redefining the game?
And what about
Rob Manfred’s about-face as
The god Janus had two faces:
100%, there will be baseball –
And, at the same, no baseball at all?
I don’t want these arms –
Nor the promises – hinged
At shoulders a fan can’t rest on.
A Note to Rob Manfred
by Stephen Jones
An assault on summer: a pandemic
Couldn’t scuttle it, but, it seems, bank
Rolls and ledger books could. Now,
It’s up to both sides to save the game.
Manfred, where are you? Players and
Owners – stumbling towards a season
Neither side wants – are not budging.
You alone can be Solomon and decide.