Home » Poems » Charles Messina » Alone In A Crowd

Notes About The Poem

Oxymoron Poetry Contest- Sponsor- Nette Onclaud 9/3/2025

In 1957 baseball fan Alice Roth was struck twice by foul balls during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants. Richie Ashburn, a hall of fame player, hit her in the face, breaking her nose, and then he hit her again while she was being carried out on a stretcher, breaking her knee. Ashburn and Roth became long-time friends after the event.

Alone In A Crowd

There she was all by her lonesome 
Forty-thousand people were there
Sitting in the stands by herself 
She got hit with a foul baseball 
They carried her on a stretcher 
So that they can attend to her 
As they approached the exit door 
She got hit by another ball

baseballother

♡Like0

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Valsa George

September 15, 2025 at 6:24 AM

She could at least feel that she was not totally friendless and alone. In a few lines, you have emphasized the importance of friendship. Enjoyed your poem, Charlie.

Victor Buhagiar

September 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM

Hi Charles, Alice Roth must have been a very forgiving person.

Ann Peck

September 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM

Wow! That is crazy, isn't it? I wonder if she went to any more games, ever! That's so nice that the two became lifelong friends. That's the way the world is supposed to work, isn't it? Nice poem, Charles.