by Rick Young | Apr 2, 2014 | Poem
Luke Appling was a leadoff shortstop for bad White Sox teams.
His nickname was “Old Aches and Pains.” He was oft hurt, it seems.
Dick Radatz was a “Monster” on the mound at Fenway Park.
He had two great relief years, then his fastball got an arc.
Reggie Smith switch hit home runs for Sox and a few others.
He played back in the days when Boston had very few brothers.
Don Sutton won three hundred with a mix of craft and guile.
You couldn’t fault his method. That was not so with his style.
by Rick Young | Apr 1, 2014 | Poem
Rod Kanehl played second base for hapless early Mets.
The fans all loved their "Hot Rod." He was one of Casey’s pets.
Ron Perranoski was a Dodger relief king.
In sixty-three and sixty-five, he won a series ring.
Phil Niekro is a knuckleballer in the Hall of fame.
He had a twenty-twenty year and threw one no-hit game.
Rusty Staub in Montreal was called Le Grand Orange.
He was a chef, but sampling turned him into a blancmange.
by Rick Young | Mar 31, 2014 | Poem
"Moose" Stubing’s cup of coffee was just five times at the plate.
He briefly helmed the Angels, managed to go oh and eight.
Tom Hausman was a righty whose career was less than swell.
Quite often he was off the hill and stuck on the D.L.
Tracy Jones played for five teams in five years in the show.
Now he’s a talk radio host in Cincy, Ohio.
Chien-Ming Wang came from Taiwan to be a Yankee starter.
He threw a heavy sinker and his fastball was a darter.
by Rick Young | Mar 30, 2014 | Poem
"Ripper" Collins was an aptly nicknamed gashouse Card.
He played a slick first base and hit the horsehide very hard.
Grady Little managed Boston, took ’em pretty far,
But always will be Pedro’d for not pulling out his star.
Jack Lazorko was a righty hurler from Hoboken.
He was no Frank Sinatra: five career wins, I’m not jokin’.
Terry Bross had zero career wins as mop-up man.
He did pitch one no-hitter, but it happened in Japan.
by Rick Young | Mar 29, 2014 | Poem
"Cy" Young, the greatest pitcher ever, has his name on THE award.
With over five hundred wins, Denton, it’s True, is hurler’s lord.
Tommy Holmes’ hit streak was thirty-seven back in forty-five.
The Boston Braves fans loved him until his team’s fortunes took a dive.
Denny McClain was last hurler, with Tigers, to get thirty wins.
He got involved with gambling, drugs, and there the story just begins.
Billy Beane, as hitting prospect, never did pan out at all.
But, as Oakland A’s G.M., he linked his name to "Moneyball."
