Best Shortstop Poems
“Life’s A Lot Like Baseball”
Life’s a lot like baseball, neither is a simple game.
Each is filled with the stuff of life.
Both, so much the same.
Complete with hard work and training, nearly every day.
In each, one learns to catch and throw;
and taking bases along the way.
Everyone is a baseball player;
whether on shortstop, in the dugout or at the pitcher’s mound.
It doesn’t really matter where we are
as long as we are team players, dedicated all around.
Sometimes we catch the balls;sometimes we may miss.
But everything’s A-OK, as long as we try again even if the crowd boos a hiss.
Every once in a while, when we're batting well,
we may even hit a desired home run.
Life seems so good; such a celebration time,
filled with much laughter and fun.
When we strike out, we need to remember…
Not all is lost; we’re still part of a great world team.
If we are down on ourselves for not playing well,
we just need to try again,
because the game is never as bad as it seems.
When we are mad or disappointed with other players,
we need to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They could be struggling with problems unseen,
and we wouldn’t want to wrongly shout, “You’re Out”!
Sometimes we might attend a game
to encourage or watch others play.
It could be family, friends or anyone,
we are there to encourage and inspire them on their way.
Yes, life is a lot like baseball;
with its seasons, players and teams ever changing, as its always been.
Remember though, we are all in this together,
to support,
to cheer,
to win!
(With apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer, author of "Casey at the Bat".)
The Mudville nine and Casey have their chance for sweet revenge;
They play today in Dirtburg, their misfortune to avenge.
Two mighty Casey homers have us leading, five to four.
The bottom of the ninth arrives: three cheers for three outs more!
The lead-off slugger, Bugsy, flies to right: out number one.
But Smith and Jones both single; now the worrying’s begun.
So when our pitcher, Nelly, loads the bases with a walk,
In shaken insecurity we hush our hopeful talk.
We badly need a strikeout—better yet, a double play.
But cleanup batter Brutus may have something more to say.
Old Nelly sure looks nervous as he winds up for the pitch,
And Brutus eyes him coolly, and we see his muscles twitch.
And now our hearts stop beating as we hear the bat’s report.
And ahh, relief—we breathe again; he’s grounded straight to short!
The shortstop throws to second for the force: out number two.
The easy lob to first will end this rematch, right on cue.
The Dirtbag Coliseum is erupting in a din:
Uproarious cheers reverberate as Smith and Jones jog in.
The joyful, jubilant half-gibes behind each haughty face
Proclaim our Casey still a bum; he’s overthrown first base.
Baseball and beer and a beautiful woman
Baseball and beer
and a beautiful woman
Tonight, such a
wonderful date
Two teams are playing,
while one love we're sharing,
who cares who is up
at the plate
Her team gets a hit
and I can't help but smile,
seeing the look
on her face
The batter starts running,
he hopes for a single
while I begin rounding
first base
Holding her tight,
as we kiss between pitches,
keeping an eye
on the score
I slide into second,
my heart quickly beating
here with the one
I adore
"Stee-rike, you're out!"
I can hear the ump yelling,
the shortstop just went
down in three
I pull her in close
all the while I am thinking,
I'm glad he's not
yelling at me
Now to third base,
oh her skin soft and tender,
the infield, the lights
up above
I can see home,
as I lead off a little,
then dart in a sprint
to her love
Crossing home plate
is a magical feeling,
breathless the two
of us cheer
A beautiful woman,
an evening of baseball,
and let's not forget
about beer
** Note: The Astros won the game**
For the National Pastime poetry contest
Sponsored by: Phillip Garcia
The Mets figured they already had a pitching ace.
They badly needed a competent man to play third base.
A righty and a lefty were considered better than dependable.
The management considered another right-handed pitcher expendable.
The Amazin’ Mets felt they had minor league talent galore.
After the win in ‘69, they were gunning for one more.
For this expendable right-hander, a converted shortstop the Mets would get.
This was a deal the front office and fans would regret.
The outcome of this done deal proved to be a shame.
That expendable right-hander went on to the Hall of Fame.
There is a lot of responsibility for a shortstop.
Many times, I field the ball on the hop.
As sure as I breathe and am alive,
I often have to snare a hard line drive.
I become a catalyst for a double play.
We must keep the opponents from scoring and save the day.
I field the ball up the middle and throw to first base.
There is no time to think, but react in haste.
To get the runner out, I have no time to waste.
I must get the ball to first with a strong arm.
That way, I can protect our lead from harm.
I must be the team’s wizard with the glove.
It is hard work, but a labor of love.
I lead my team out on the field each day.
When it comes to winning, I must always find a way.
Hooray!
Wet grassy feet fill my soccer cleats.
Hot sweaty teens run fast track meets.
She skis down sugary mountain tops.
He begs his coach to play shortstop.
Footballs, field goals, fumbles.
Touchdowns, tackles, tumbles.
My mother keeps warm with hot brown drinks,
as I learn to skate on chilly rinks.
A sadly splintered hockey stick, from a two-quick hat trick.
A winning catch is cradled in a well-loved mitt.
Tiger wins with a hole in one.
Miniature golf is much more fun.
Double dribble the whistle blows.
Excitement on the court grows!
Busy balls dunked in their hoops.
"Hooray" the three cheers for the ALLEY -OOP!
Clean uniforms all lined up
One set on each side.
Two flags- state and country-
Salute from across the field.
Swing, swing, swing again
And a thick clink,
Everything moves at once.
The ball- outfield, second base,
First base, third,
Shortstop and then the mound.
Is he out?
You bet, tagged at first.
Good boy.
Batter up, tap tap tap on the ground,
Swing around to ready.
Swing, swing, swing again
And again and again.
That's three, my boy, you're out.
Change sides.
For a team to compete in a pennant chase,
they need quality at first, second, and third base.
Players are needed that can hit and field.
Three more are required to complete the outfield.
To field line drives or grounders on the hop,
any team also needs a quality shortstop.
No squad can ever be considered great
if they don’t have a good catcher behind the plate.
Any club needs four or five dependable starters.
To finish the game, a good corps of relievers.
A contending team has a fine pitching staff.
Anything less than that would be a laugh.
In order to reach the top position,
a team has to outscore the opposition.
They need more wins than the competition.
This is any team’s annual mission.
The team from Philadelphia is considered great.
They put it all together in 2008.
The season ended with a World Series victory.
That’s what meeting expectations means to me.
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CharlaXFabels
23Skeedo
This is a cliché. That's my name for an old aside or an adage here we go into the
world of CharlaXFabels once more gentle reader ewe 23 Skeedo. 23 skidoo
(phrase)
23 skidoo is an American phrase popularized in the early twentieth century, first
appearing before WWI and becoming popular in the Roaring Twenties. It
generally refers to leaving quickly, being forced to leave quickly by someone else
or taking advantage of a propitious opportunity to leave, that is, "getting [out] while
the getting's good."
23 skidoo has been described as "perhaps the first truly national fad expression
and one of the most popular fad expressions to appear in the U.S," to the extent
that "Pennants and arm-bands at shore resorts, parks, and county fairs bore
either [23] or the word 'Skiddoo.'"
The exact origin of the phrase is uncertain. PHRASE. OH. Okay today we learn
some old phrasers YOCK YOCK YUCK. All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or
individual, as in, "he's all wet." This works better if you can remember the ABBOT
bud and Costello lou he said an aweful lot of these phrases as everyday
wordage. Abbott: Well Costello, I'm going to New York with you. You know Harris,
the Yankee's manager, gave me a job as coach for as long as you're on the
team. Costello: Look Abbott, if you're the coach, you must know all the players.
Abbott: I certainly do. Costello: Well you know I've never met the guys. So you'll
have to tell me their names, and then I'll know who's playing on the team. Abbott:
Oh, I'll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball
players now-a-days very peculiar names. Costello: You mean funny names?
Abbott: Strange names, pet names...like Dizzy Dean Costello: His brother Daffy.
Abbott: Daffy Dean...Costello: And their French cousin. Abbott: French? Costello:
Goofè. Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first,
What's on second, I Don't Know is on third...Costello: That's what I want to find
out. Abbott: What? Costello: I said I don't give a darn! Abbott: Oh, that's our
shortstop.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/humor4.shtml
when it comes to baseball
there was one team that we shall
remember from it's past
it's the nineteen twenty seven
N.Y Yankees
amidst this legendary collection
you shall find the hotest team
that ever played baseball
starting with their owner Jacob Ruppert
followed by his general manager Ed Burrow
not to mention the players
starting At first base was Lou Gehrig
rounding second was Tony Lazzeri playing
shortstop was Mark Koenig and
heading for third was Joe Dugan and
at home plate was their catcher Pat Collins
And in the Yankee outfield were right fielder
Babe Ruth center fielder Earl Combs and
left fielder was Bob Meusel
Now let me introduce you to some of their starting pitchers
we have Wait Hoyt or you may like to see in
Herb Pennock or even maybe George Pipgras
and if thats not good enought then they had
Dutch Ruether and Urban Schocker and don't forget
about the releif pitchers Myles Thomas and Bob Shawkey
along with Joe Giard and Walter Beall while
closing their games with Wiley Moore
As one Washington Senator named Joe Judge said
when they got tromped 21-1 in their game
was these fellows not only beat you
but they tear your heart out
So From the chilling mocking Murder's Row
of the dead ball era comes to you a great
team of players that is now safe at home
In Memory Of The 1927 Yankee's
May You All Be
Angels In The Outfield
Also Entry To Matt Caliri's
On Baseball Contest
OMG! What do you mean that
There's no service at this time?
Well my provider better be ready,
To pay a pretty penny or a dime.
At least they were kind enough,
To send a quick text to let me know.
That they need a few more hours to
Try and restore my lost bloodflow.
Well what the hell do they expect me
To do, now that I'm left all alone?
I mean, no TV, no internet, no music ...
Does life go on as it's been known?
Now I'm trying to search my memory,
Of how we all survived before these days.
Whether battling dungeons and dragons,
Or being a shortstop making plays.
So as I'm forced to stop surfing my digital waves,
I'll turn back the clock and go 'old-school'.
Where opening a book and using a pen & paper,
May substitute for interaction and be new fuel.
This might lead to more face-to-face meets,
Even those I'd rather avoid.
As my options seem limited, but damnit,
I can't be more annoyed!
Yet here I sit confessing my anger,
Feeling inept to accomplish anything more.
While I try to find some creativity,
Awaiting the nets return, just as before.
Baseball cards
have been around for years.
There are Topps,
and there are Fleers,
along with Bowman
and Donruss,
there are many
available to us.
Whether the player
plays shortstop or third base,
any professional player
will have his face
displayed on the front
of a baseball card.
Some are easy to find
and some are hard.
They are sold in packs
of bubble gum.
Every summer,
they come in a continuum.
Collecting makes a great hobby
without any doubt.
I only wish my old man
did not throw my old ones out!
Just as any durable and competent shortstop,
you cleanly field practically anything coming on the hop.
Your athletic ability shows when you throw to first base.
Among the best major leaguers, you have taken your place.
You hit equally well from both sides of the plate.
Your surge of power in recent years has been great.
On the base paths, you have been a constant threat.
As a base stealer, you are among the best ones yet.
Proven to be a player of the best kind,
to the Phillies, you have been quite a find.
May you continue to play baseball for many more years.
Among the home crowd, you will hear many cheers.
Pee Wee Reese was a diminutive shortstop
For the old Brooklyn Dodgers when I was a tot
With Jackie at second
Both are legends
Heroes of my childhood and a joy to watch
Steve Jeltz, you did something great.
You hit a home run from both sides of the plate.
Both home runs were hit during the same game.
That was your one great moment of fame.
Today, we have just about forgotten your name.
Steve played shortstop for the Phillies.
It was only for a few seasons in the eighties.
Not too many switch-hitting shortstops can be found.
You filled in adequately while you were around.