by Stephen Jones
The pride of Cuba
He dared the sea, to be free
Then it took him back
Ichiro
by Doug Fahrendorff
Only the first name necessary
Japan’s hitting master
3000 hits at age 42
As talented in the field
As at bat
His success
Paved the way
For other Japanese position players
Fans wonder
What he’d have done
Had he reached the Major leagues
Earlier
Few would argue
Ichiro is a truly singular talent
And should be a cinch Hall of Famer
Fall of the House of All-Star Clerihews
Julio Teheran
Loves Duran Duran
But will take a paz
On Yaz.
Yoenis Cespedes
Likes watching “The Apprentice”.
“What I can’t figure out, man,
Is where they found a talking orangutan.”
Marcell Ozuna
Is the big kahuna
In Miami’s centerfield
By Red Groom’s carnival sculpture he’s almost concealed.
Dellin Betances
Took his chances
With a street vendor’s tamales
And is now very solly.
Home Run Derby Winner
by Stephen Jones
Giancarlo Stanton swings his bat
Like John Henry swung his hammer.
When he connects, sparks fly.
No small wonder, that no pitcher
Wants to face this Marlin batter.
All Hail Ichiro
by James Finn Garner
So many long years ago
Ichiro
Began spraying hits
And if it seems like it’s
Going to go on forever
(I mean, it never
Looks like he ages),
Remember the pages
Of record holders
Left to molder
When a young stud
Both lucky and good
Works to set a new mark
At the ball park.
In time a new hero
Will surpass Ichiro,
And the passage of time
Cruel and sublime
Will lose some of its sting
As we salute a new king.