“The Great Mississippi,” by Jordan A. Deutsch
Posted: April 18, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, history, Jordan A. Deutsch, Major League Baseball, Mississippi River, MLB, National Association, poetry, sports Leave a commentThis poem by Jordan Deutsch was published in 1932, and you can see the history all over this piece. I really love the imagery of the sunrise, and the phonetic spelling out of the conductor’s pronunciations (“… Shecargo and Saint Louieeeeee”) just put a voice in my head yelling these cities out.
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Up from the grasslands,
The plains, the cities,
Up from the vastness of the land itself:
Up Up Up
To the Great Mississippi.
Up to that First Field bathed in the sun,
Basking in the glory of its birth
Immersed in future time.
Further up slides the sun.
Up
To the Red Stockings from Cincinnati,
The original Magnificent Machine,
The dynasty without a future.
Up
To the National Association,
Swaying in its greatness.
Further up slides the sun.
Through the mouth of history slide provocative names
Once breathed on the lips of dreamers.
In what fine grave do the Elizabeth Resolutes
Troy Haymakers,
And Lord Baltimores now rest?
Up moving up
To expanding cities pocketed
In gray concrete.
(Can you hear the shrill and melodic chant of the
Train Conductor calling out his roll?)
:NewYawkHartfordBosstonPhilaDELphia
LouievilleCINCINnatiShecargo and Saint Louieeeeee.
Up up up
Up
To the Great Mississippi.
Killer baseball
Posted: April 12, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes, comics, humor, sports 2 CommentsMany a child can identify with Calvin in this one.

Bill Watterson
“Opening Day,” Terry Cashman
Posted: April 8, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Major League Baseball, MLB, music, Opening Day, sports, Terry Cashman Leave a commentIt’s been a week since Opening Day, but the season feels new enough that this song still feels appropriate. I really love the line about being “a kid once more.”
Safe
Posted: March 31, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, comics, humor 2 CommentsAn interesting philosophical question on a play at the plate.
A baseball haiku by Heather Ober
Posted: March 27, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture, Uncategorized | Tags: Baseball, haikus, Heather Ober, poetry, sports Leave a commentThere doesn’t seem to be a title to this one — it is listed merely as “Haiku 5.” All the same, I found this haiku very relatable, even in its brevity. I’m sure most kids who grow up playing ball have this experience at some point in their lives.
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an old baseball
soars across blue sky–
broken glass
Spring training in New England
Posted: March 22, 2021 Filed under: 21st Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Boston Red Sox, comics, Dave Granlund, humor, Major League Baseball, MLB, National Football League, New England Patriots, NFL, sports, Spring Training 2 CommentsThis one is obviously a bit outdated, but it did still make me chuckle a bit.

davegranlund.com
Baseball organization
Posted: March 6, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Army, Baseball, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes, comics, humor, sports Leave a commentWhile I do think Calvin makes a good point, I rather think playing baseball would be a hell of a lot more enjoyable than enlisting in the Army.

Bill Watterson
“Baseball And Life,” by Stanley Cooper
Posted: February 28, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, life, poetry, sports, Stanley Cooper Leave a commentThis one is short and sweet, playing on the metaphor of baseball and life. There are some pretty intense pressure situations in both worlds, for sure.
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Baseball ain’t just a game
Ask any fan, it’s a way of life
Life and Baseball, so much the same
Similarly filled with fun and strife
Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out
Score tied, full count on the batter
He knows, at that moment, with out a doubt
If he fails to hit, nothing in life will matter
To strike out in life, as many do
Brings consequences, not aspired
Just as striking out with count three and two
Is something, clearly, not desired

Speedball
Posted: February 16, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, Bill Amend, comics, FoxTrot, humor, sports 3 CommentsThe complete and utter ridiculousness of this suggestion literally made me laugh out loud.

Transmit
Posted: January 30, 2021 Filed under: Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, comics, humor, Mike du Jour, Mike Lester, sports 2 CommentsWell, that’s clever.

Mike Lester