Spring training arrives
Baseball swings away
Dreams forever fill
Grown men now at play
Life’s daily fabric
Clothed around baseball
Game’s timeless rhythm
Umpire shouts, “Play ball!”
Bambino’s shadow
“House That Ruth Built” shrine
Yankee Stadium
Writes daily headlines
Pennant race forecast
Veterans lead off
Each rookie follows
Game always shows off
Who’s in center field?
New Yorkers look out
Mick, Duke, or Willie
None better, no doubt
National pastime
Newspapers proclaim
Box scores filled with stats
Deep love for this game
Nation’s beating pulse
Another home run
Mantle, Maris chase
Ain’t this really fun?
Each autumn’s classic
Baseball measures up
World Series broadcast
Greatness bats cleanup
Memories still stand
Precious trading cards
Hall of Fame’s legends
Baseball’s honor guard
A few of the stanzas deserve some additional notes. The “Bambino” refers to baseball legend George Herman (Babe) Ruth. The center fielders are Mickey Mantle (Yankees), Duke Snider (Dodgers), and Willie Mays (Giants). All played at the same time during the 1950s. Mantle and Maris refer to Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, who played for the Yankees. In 1961, their personal home run derby propelled Maris to hit a then-record 61 home runs for a season, with Mantle close behind with 54.
Big Sky Buckeye 