Reviving the Art of Baseball Doggerel
What I remember the most– is the silence,
a white orb in a blue sky,
me silently digging across the green grass–
a stretch beyond reach–
the ball striking my glove’s pocket.
Perhaps a tumble. Perhaps not.
Looking into third–
the coaches hands up!
You’re out,
and the runner
stopping,
stunned,
looking at me
cursing me with his body.
You’re out, young man.
You’re out.
Yes, the Braves right now
Are the best team in baseball,
And yes, the Yankees are riding
An historic implosion this season,
And yes [painfully, so painfully
If you’re a Yankee fan],
The three “games” were ugly.
But despite the doom and gloom,
There was a silver lining —
Michael Kay calling the game,
And David Cone and Paul O’Neil
Adding insightful, humorous
Commentary. The trio made this
Downward Yankees’ slide palatable.
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.
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?
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
