Mickey Vernon, two-time bat champ, played a slick first base,
Loved by Senators and fans, though often in last place.
John Orsino was a catcher whose stats were so-so.
Ten years after playing days he became a golf pro.
David Clyde, whose career died of shoulder injury,
Pitched just five years, a burned-out phenom now his legacy.
Terry Francona played for five teams over ten seasons.
Gained fame as Bosox manager, two series wins the reasons.
Joe McCarthy helmed the Yanks from Babe up to The Clipper.
Bomber bats and pennant runs made him a happy skipper.
Gary Peters, savvy lefty, pitched for both White and Red Sox.
Also hit nineteen home runs, a menace in the batter’s box.
Jesse Orosco has two rings and many accolades.
He pitched more games than anyone and lasted four decades.
Ken Caminiti, when on steroids, blew up like a moose.
He won one N.L. MVP, but lost to drug abuse.
Preston Gomez was called Pedro, down in Cuban climes.
Here he managed three teams, six years, finished last four times.Tommy Hutton could have hit two-fifty were he faster.
Played good first for several years then became a broadcaster.Milt Wilcox was a good third starter, Tigers ’84.
Won seventeen in season and in playoffs won two more.Don Mattingly was dubbed by Yankee fans, "Donnie Baseball."
He never made the playoffs. And he’ll never make the Hall.
Bucky Walters pitched the Reds to series victory.
In thirty-nine, he was sublime, the N.L. MVP.
Harry Craft played until service called in forty-two.
Became first manager of Colts and, later, Astros, too.
Rick Miller broke in with the Sox and then came back again.
But center field was given to a kid named Freddie Lynn.
Frank Viola, with the Twins, won series MVP.
And next year won Cy Young award, a crafty lefty he.
"Wahoo" Crawford was a slugger in the dead ball age.
Top-ten hitter of all time, according to one gauge.
Duffy Lewis roamed the left field cliff at Fenway Park.
His team won three series and he often was the spark.
Von McDaniel lost control after his rookie year.
His older brother, Lindy, had a very long career.
Jim Eisenreich’s Tourette’s syndrome made baseball life a strain.
He persevered for fifteen years, a hero, it is plain.