Aaron Nola is Sublime

by Ellen Adair

Glory be to God for Aaron Nola
For changeups of couple-color, diving from the zone;
For hosts of swinging strikes on tunnel’d pitches;
Fresh-curveballs swooping like a rainbow’s gold; a
Landscape plotted for a dotted fastball, blown
By even Ronald Acuña. That’s Aaron Nola, bitches.

 

Ellen Adair is an actor, with recurring roles on shows like “The Sinner,” “Homeland,” and “Bull,” and a contributing analyst to the MLB Network show “Off Base.” Their book of poetry, Curtain Speech, is available from Pen & Anvil Press. They also host the podcasts “Take Me In to the Ballgame” and “Love Takes Action,” and draws baseball players by commission.

 

Going Out on Topps

by Greg Simetz

Baseball without Topps
is a hotdog without mustard:
it can be done but why bother?
Better stick with the custard.

Bubblegum was a bonus
with the stats and the dishing
like how they spent the offseason
hunting and fishing.

But Topps could be cruel
as you opened a pack warily,
praying for Hank Aaron
and getting Marv Throneberry.

 

715

by Dan Spinella

We watched it together, community
We saw it through a black & white screen
No. 44’s smooth delivery
No. 44’s elegant swing

Buckner at the fence
Tom House in the ‘pen
715
Aaron met at the plate
Kissed by his mother forever

Cheers for a black man
in the South
“You can hear Georgia
around the world.”

 

This Year’s Departures

by James Finn Garner

The season is done, the jocks are stored
Only two teams are left on the board
Let’s pause now, while for Friday we wait,
And salute the retirements of a few greats.

Pujols hit his 700th for the Cards
And now will have time to work on his yard.

Bosox and Cubs champ Jon Lester
Now is an official hammock tester.

Music lover Kurt Suzuki
Can learn the banjo or bouzouki

After the majors, Ádrian González played on
But after this year, A-Gon done gone.

Melky Cabrera, the man and the myth,
Will star in community theater: “The Melkman Cometh.”

And if anyone’s  looking for J.A. Happ,
He’s out on the patio, taking a nap.

 

New Legends of the Fall

by James Finn Garner

On a beautiful weekend in fall
As everyone broke out their sweaters
And watched colored leaves in thrall
Of the passage of time and the weather

A few teams still played baseball
Underdogs showed up and played better
The Braves, Bums and Mets hit the wall
While the Pods and Phils raced for the cheddar.

Get set for the stories that bawl
About TV ratings — “could be better!”
Ignore this predictable squall
And enjoy the seasonal splendor.

Baseball – Fall Classic