Faded Photographs
Some pictures hang upon my wall
Of baseball players from the past-
Gionfriddo’s catch of DiMaggio’s ball-
Lou Gehrig standing at the mike-
Babe Ruth pitching in the Bronx-
And the one place that links them all.
They happened at the lumberyard
The place on River Avenue
The place where Bombers came to play
Now sad, diminished, and by Fall-
a victim of the wrecking ball.
One other theme is intertwined
Within the pictures on my wall
Each enshrines the final time
These men enjoyed a curtain call..
Babe was pitching his last time
The season ender (33’)
He never pitched another game
A complete game shutout
Against the Sox.
Gehrig speaking at the mike
A hot July 4th holiday
At home plate for the final time
He stood on the unaccustomed side
Gionfriddo’s speed won the game
By making his miraculous catch
But next day he sat on the bench
And never played a game again
How bittersweet these moments are
for a scrub or a superstar
To know, at last, you’ve reached the end
To still have done the best you can.
Their time has passed, these men have died
And now their park has seen its day
I’ve only photographs to show
Perfection never fades away.
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
There used to be a ballpark here
The Ghosts of Ruth and Gehrig sat
Up in Tier 35
And wiped tears from translucent cheeks
As the final anthem died.
DiMaggio brought the popcorn
The Mick supplied the beer
He bought it up in heaven
Cause it’s cheaper there than here.
“An epic game”, the Babe enthused
“The best I ever saw”
he chowed down on some hot dogs
And looked around for more.
Gehrig glanced out at his bat
Atop the center pole
And wished to get it in his hands
And feel its weight once more.
“I had a streak in 41’ the longest in the game”
Then DiMaggio fell silent and turned to watch the game
“I did my best in 56’”Mantle then exclaimed
“I wonder what I could have been if both my legs were game”
Mystique and Aura, Saucy things
Each dancing at a pole
As Derek with his broken hand
drove a single through the hole.
Pettite our left handed ace
Dealt his greatest game
Glaring out beneath his cap-
His hate for batters plain.
The autumn sky had turned to black
When Mo entered the game
The Sandman tune was soon drowned out
By the faithful who remain.
Robert Merrill sang, and then Kate Smith sang
Then Sinatra one last time
Singers for the requiem
Living need not apply!
The Ghosts of Ruth and Gehrig sat
Up in Tier 35
And wiped tears from translucent cheeks
As the music died
“I wonder if we’ll feel the pain
When they wield the wrecking ball
I wonder if our hearts will break
When they breech the wall.”
“Fear not, dear friend, the Stadium’s end
For if steel and concrete fall
The Stadium lives in our hearts
Whenever we recall.”
The fans left standing in the street
On River Avenue
These corporate types in Luxury suites
Have little thought for you
Our paradise is lost tonight
Our little patch of green
But what a life we lived in there
The greatness we have seen.
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It was funny, when I thought of it afterward, how Ruth and Gehrig looked as they stood there. The Babe must have been waiting for me to get the ball up a little so he could get his bat under it.
quote by Carl Hubbell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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King Of Baseball
As one of the best players ever lived
He is still one of the best icons standing
To him a bat was like a matchstick
Fusing the ball up in the sky burning
Back down like a burning asteroid
6'2" giant waiting to hit the ball
Before the crowd could blink he
Was already putting foot on the
Fourth base he played every game like
A training session but won every one of his games
With full passion living the other teams in concussion noting their heads like bubble heads
while he enjoyed and waved freely like a
Loose thread
Talking behind base ball truth all about Babe Ruth
poem by Atlay Mwenifumbo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Now I've had everything except for the thrill of watching Babe Ruth play.
quote by Joe DiMaggio
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I think there are some players born to play ball.
quote by Joe DiMaggio
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I think we match up with anybody because our pitching. In a short series you run your big three out there or four out there. That generally is what wins a series - pitching and defense. If we can catch the ball and not give away any runs like we do sometimes.
quote by Dusty Baker
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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As far as I'm concerned, Aaron is the best ball player of my era. He is to baseball of the last fifteen years what Joe DiMaggio was before him. He's never received the credit he's due.
quote by Mickey Mantle
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many players on the field
quote by Jim Boulton
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Farewell To My Fans
A farewell to my fans
When I am just a faded memory,
and my dimensions shift in your mind’s eye-
think back upon the nights you spent at me
around a field of green beneath the sky.
For you were here the night back in 04’
The night that Jeter dove into my stands
When Yanks and Red Sox played a thirteenth Frame
he caught the ball but had to leave the game.
And you were here when A-Rod hit three bombs
Against the cy young candidate Colon-
you stood expectant in my left field stands
To catch the fourth if ever it should land..
Who can forget old Freddy and his pan-
The “Ancient Mariner” of Yankee fans
He wanders through my aisles just like a vendor-
He bangs the drum more slowly this September.
I’ve been the field where Ruth and Mantle played-
where DiMaggio stood out at center stage.
I’ve been the home plate where the luckiest man
bowed out before his disbelieving fans.
I’ve played host often to a Series game
My champions have added to my fame.
The shadows long upon my infield face
As days grew short and cool at Autumn’s pace.
I was the place George Herman lay in state
When he lost his fight for life in 48’
Thousands of you wandered past his bier
(the only one he didn’t want, I hear) .
But now my time has come, they say I’m through
And I think hard what Gehrig had to do-
He passed on the baton from failing hands
So I too say my farewell to the fans.
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Baseball changes through the years. It gets milder.
Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
quote by Jim Bouton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.
Baseball is all about pitching, and we know we have to improve our pitching.
My soccer team
I see men standing next to each other
in a line
and they wear yellow and green.
The national anthem plays
and its like nobody honours it
or know the words,
but maybe they are caught by the great moment.
The whistle blows
and the ball is kicked to and fro
and there are men attacking
and others that defend.
The goal is open
and the ball flies past in a wide arc
and it’s as if my team
can’t score any goal.
The opponents have the ball
and shoot it right over the field
and one of their front players
hits it with his head.
The ball flies twisting
and with a swing in the air
and is accurately aimed at the goal
As from the ground
the goalie rises
and the onlookers are silent
and just before it’s too late,
the ball is caught
and the crowd cheers.
It is as if something sweeps into
the men with yellow and green
and they play perfectly,
like only a good team can.
There’s passion to win
and the ball is passed
from player to player
and a mighty kick,
launches it accurately past the goalkeeper
to get entangled in the net.
The crowd cheers and go nuts
and vuvezelas are blowing
and flags are swept to and thro
and the players grab each other.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Go For It
Everybodys wasting time
Everybody stands in line
Think of babe ruth
And you think of hot dogs and beer
But if he could hit a home run so could you
And your weight is just nowhere near
Am I making myself quite clear?
Is that the best you can do?
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
If thats the best you can do
Get out of my place
Take anyones place
Come last in the race, but
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
The clock is ticking on the wall
Everybody has to take a fall
Think of ray charles
And you think of sunglasses at night
But if he can play piano so can you
And you can tell black from white
Can you tell me that Im not right?
Is that the best you can do?
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
If thats the best you can do
Get out of my life
Be anyones life
And do what you like, but
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
Think of babe ruth
And you think of hot dogs and beer
But if he could hit a home run so could you
And your weight is just nowhere near
Am I making myself quite clear?
Is that the best you can do?
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
If thats the best you can do
Get out of your shell, be anyones pal
Do bad or do well, but
Go for it, go for it, go for it, go for it
song performed by by Joe Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees are so famous for Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, all of those guys.
quote by Bert Campaneris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Soon They Will Fade To
These pictures that hang upon my wall
Showing different memories coming from them all
That just seem to fade away
Till there's only pictures left to say
I was happy,
I had fun
My life was perfect
But soon these pictures
Will fade as well
Till there's no memories
No pictures to say
I was happy
I had fun
My life was perfect
Nothing to tell you to keep strong
Nothing to say i love you
Nothing left at all....
poem by Sxc Babe Xxx
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Greatest
Little boy, in a baseball hat stands in the field with his ball and bat.
Says, "I am the greatest player of them all" puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
Now the little boy doesn't say a word, picks up his ball, he is undeterred.
Says, "I am the greatest there has ever been" and he grits his teeth and he tries it again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
He makes no excuses, he shows no fear, he just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy, he adjusts his hat, picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says,"I am the greatest, the game is on the line" and he gives his all one last time.
And the ball goes up and the moon so bright, swings his bat with all his might
The world's as still, as still can be, the baseball falls and that's strike three.
Now it's suppertime and his momma calls, little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, "I am the greatest, that is a fact, but even I didn't know I could pitch like that!"
Says, "I am the greatest,that is understood, but even I didn't know I could pitch that good!
song performed by by Kenny Rogers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I was in baseball and you went into the clubhouse, you didn't see ball players with curling irons.
quote by Red Barber
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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