by Rick Young | May 31, 2014 | Poem
Ray Washburn pitched nine years for Cards, helped them to series twice.
His hot year was in sixty-eight, no-hitter adding spice.
Tippy Martinez saved games in years when O’s were winning.
Back in eighty-three picked off three Blue Jays in one inning.
Kenny Lofton played one season each, ten different teams.
His seven years in Cleveland were his stable times, it seems.
Jake Peavey won a Cy with Padres. Strikeouts were his thing.
Now he’s on the hill for Boston, where he won his ring.
by Rick Young | May 30, 2014 | Poem
"Turkey" Donlin played the outfield in the dead ball age.
The hard-hitting playboy gave up baseball for the stage.
"Turk" Lown took White Sox to the series, pitching late relief.
After baseball he became a mailman. Fame is brief.
Ed Rakow pitched six years, four teams.
His nickname, now, is "Rock," it seems.
Manny Ramirez acted out, "being himself" the reason.
He won two series with the Sox, has most home runs, post-season.
by Rick Young | May 29, 2014 | Poem
John Kennedy first time up for Senators hit a tater.
Born same day as JFK, but twenty-four years later.
"Blue Moon" Odom pitched in threepeat series wins for A’s.
A battler, he was known to fight with teammates in those days.
Eric Davis looked like he would dominate the sport.
But injuries and cancer cut his outfield career short.
Jerry Hairston, Jr.’s dad and grandpop both played ball.
Was cited once for steroid use but never took the fall.
by Rick Young | May 28, 2014 | Poem
Warren Giles for eighteen years was reigning N.L. chief.
He let two teams move from New York and caused a lot of grief.
Kirk Gibson hit a big home run and limped around the bases.
Amongst the baseball gods he’s got one of the better faces.
Bill Doran said "Yes, I can," in eight years with the ‘stros.
His second sacker records are all now Craig Biggio’s.
Jhonny Peralta, Cardinal shortstop, also plays third base.
Says he’s the only Johnny with the "H" in the right place.
by Rick Young | May 27, 2014 | Poem
"Pinky" Higgins managed Red Sox, but his rule was lax.
One thing made clear by his roster: he did not like blacks.
Jerry Kindall played nine years of infield, long and lean.
He had some pop, but awful lifetime average: two-thirteen.
Jeff Bagwell was an Astro for his fifteen year career.
He had great numbers. Whether they’re enhanced is still not clear.
Frank Thomas, in his sixteen years with White Sox, smoked the ball.
The "Big Hurt’s" big statistics land him this year in the Hall.
