42
by Doug Fahrendorff
Rickey and Robinson
Reluctant heroes
Attacking baseball’s racial barriers
Equanimity difficult to maintain
In the face of vitriol
From owners
Fans and other players
Persevering
Opening doors
For Willie, Hank
Countless others
Baseball showing the way
A victory
For human rights
Thanks Jackie!
Fall of 42
By Stuart Shea
Shrouded in soft gauzy myth
Jackie Robinson
smiles, uncomplicated–
angry when necessary,
beatific when possible,
surrounded by angels and devils,
not people.
Making Jackie a figure,
instead of a person,
means we don’t have to deal with
what he dealt with.
We can celebrate his triumph,
which by our celebrating it becomes OUR triumph.
Oh, how good we are.
Born Blue
by David Adler
I grew up with Garvey and Cey
And Russell and Lopes every day
. Sutton on the hill
. Lasorda so shrill
My heart lived off Stadium Way
The Play-by-Play’s the Thing!
by James Finn Garner
To honor the birth and death of the Bard of Avon on April 23:
His spirit having shed this mortal clay,
Consider Shakespeare doing play-by-play.
With artful language, could he break the code,
Or just “stand like a house by th’ side of th’ road”?
To hear, egads, of someone “going yard”
Might sow farming tableaux within the Bard.
A “dying quail” or “Texas Leaguer”, s’truth,
are chestnuts we might hear the playwright uthe.
The redhead like old Barber might repeat
A phrase like “sitting in the catbird’s seat.”
Shout “Holy cow!” he’d not, nor tipsy sing,
Though quaffing Falstaff would remove the sting.
Arrives the pitch both high, tight and inside,
Quoth he: “With patience do such things betide.”
Having Shakespeare on the broadcast team!
Faith, t’would be the sweetest wordsmith’s dream!
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day”
Rings brighter than, “These two teams came to play.”
To catch, though, baseball’s phantom ballyhoo,
He’d trail stout Ernie: “Let us playeth two!”
2013 NL West Prediction Haiku
By Stuart Shea
ARIZONA
As snakes in the grass
Lie in wait for their prey…Nah.
This team is just old.
COLORADO
Wise beyond his years,
or simply out of his league?
Walt Weiss’ springtime.
LOS ANGELES
Gold, silver, riches
beyond all compare will buy
just one Zack Greinke.
SAN DIEGO
At least it’s always
a lovely place to work on
The perfect suntan.
SAN FRANCISCO
Ladies: when seeking
wealthy East Bay pensioners,
Look for Series rings.
