by Rick Young | May 22, 2014 | Poem
Al Simmons, nicknamed "Bucketfoot," was twice World Series champ.
He had his best years at the plate in Connie Mack’s A’s camp.
Tommy John, soft-throwing lefty, pitched twenty six seasons.
A sinker ball and ligament replacement were the reasons.
Jose Mesa’s best year closing came with Tribe, no doubt.
But in series seventh game could not get Marlins out.
Julian Tavares labored for eleven teams.
The righty won a ring with Sox, but was quite odd, it seems.
by Rick Young | May 21, 2014 | Poem
Earl Averill was an Indian who often got to third base.
He once got on an airplane with a bat inside a gun case.
Bobby Cox, famed manager, was very well respected.
He holds the record for the skipper who’s been most ejected.
Kent Hrbek could hit like heck and was a lifetime Twin.
He got them to the series twice, and both times helped them win.
Bob Molinaro, Newark born, played outfield for five teams.
He hit two-sixty-four in eight years, not the stuff of dreams.
by Rick Young | May 20, 2014 | Poem
Wilcy Moore, as rookie, had the league’s best E.R.A.
His twenty-seven Yankees were the best team of their day.
Ken Boyer could field third like Clete, but hit a whole lot more.
His grand slam off Al Downing turned the series, sixty-four.
Bobby Murcer replaced Mantle out in center field.
He played, coached and broadcast games ’til cancer made him yield.
Todd Stottlemyre served Toronto’s Blue Jays well.
He was an o.k. pitcher, not as good as father Mel.
by Rick Young | May 19, 2014 | Poem
Curt Simmons was a lefty who toiled fourteen years for Phils.
He then went on to three more clubs. This guy has seen some hills.
Gil McDougald won five series rings, played in three more.
But he’s most remembered for his liner that hit Score.
Rick Cerrone: backup catcher’s what his stat line blares.
But, in ninety-eight, he resurrected Newark Bears.
Brandon Inge came up a catcher, then changed to third base.
The tattoos on his arms are for his sons, Tyler and Chase.
by Rick Young | May 18, 2014 | Poem
Carroll Hardy played eight years. Perhaps the only fame he has
Is that he pinch hit for Williams and, a season later, Yaz.
Brooks Robinson, the "Human Vacuum," played a mean third base.
His sixteen gold gloves recognize how well he’d guard his space.
Reggie Jackson hit three homers in a series game,
With a swing so sweet a candy bar bore his first name.
Jim Sundberg caught for sixteen years, until his bones were creaking.
He makes his living nowadays with motivation speaking.
by Rick Young | May 17, 2014 | Poem
Cool Papa Bell could run like hell, a Negro League sensation.
It’s said he scored from first base in a sac bunt situation.
Ozzie Virgil, first Dominican to make the show,
Had son who made the majors with more power, but real slow.
Billy Hoeft, with seven teams, had four less wins than losses.
Won twenty as a Tiger, though, with tricky left-hand tosses.
Carlos Pena had his best years with the Tampa Rays.
He played in the Cape Cod League back in Northeastern days.
by Rick Young | May 16, 2014 | Poem
Dave Philley was a Phillie once, and if that seems prophetic,
He also played in Philadelphia as an Athletic.
Rube Walker, as a Dodger catcher, didn’t play a lot,
But was behind the plate for Bobby Thompson’s famous ‘shot.’
Billy Martin always had a temper that was quick.
Was traded by the Yankees, a bad influence on Mick.
Jack Morris, with the Tigers, was a complete game machine.
Won one ring there, two with the Jays, and one with Twins, between.
by Rick Young | May 15, 2014 | Poem
Bill North’s speed and defense helped the A’s win back-to-back, son,
Despite famous clubhouse fight with Mister Reggie Jackson.
George Brett, a lifelong Royal, thirteen times took All Star stage.
Today, the Hall-of-Famer’s known most for his pine tar rage.
John Smoltz pitched twenty years for Braves, part of a great rotation.
Now spends his time in broadcast booths, awaiting Hall citation.
Justin Morneau, Twins first baseman, came down from B.C.
First Canadian to win an A.L. MVP.
by Rick Young | May 14, 2014 | Poem
Earle Combs was leadoff hitter for the Yanks’ murderers’ row.
He played eleven years, replaced by Joe DiMaggio.
Dick Howser played and managed for the Yankees and K.C.
He guided Royals over Cards to series victory.
Tony Perez was the "Big Dog" in the Reds Machine.
Amongst its gnashing cogs he seemed to always be serene.
Roy Halladay, hard throwing "Doc," could pitch without fatigue.
He had two rings, a perfect game and won Cy’s in each league.
by Rick Young | May 13, 2014 | Poem
Dusty Rhodes was noted for his many clutch pinch hits.
He was a Giant at the plate. His fielding was the pits.
Leon Wagner, "Daddy Wags," hit homers for five teams.
He wound up homeless in L.A. and died with shattered dreams.
John Roseboro was battered by the Giants’ Marichal.
The Dodger was forgiving, though, and Juan became his pal.
Bobby Valentine, indeed, was no flash in the pan.
He played with five clubs, managed three, including in Japan.
by Rick Young | May 12, 2014 | Poem
Joe Dugan played a good third base with Babe and Lou’s great Yanks.
They say he earned his nickname, though, by often "Jumping" ranks.
Yogi Berra might be the best catcher of all time.
Some say it’s his malaprops that make him so sublime.
Felipe Alou had brothers two and, later, son that played.
As player and as manager, he gets a middling grade.
Lou Whitaker excelled in eighteen-year-long Tiger run.
It’s fitting and appropriate Sweet Lou wore number one.
by Rick Young | May 11, 2014 | Poem
Charlie Gehringer was dubbed "The Mechanical Man."
Had seven years two-hundred hits, a career Tiger man.
Rip Sewell learned his blooper pitch when injury made him lame.
Ted Williams hit one in the seats, forty-six All Star Game.
Milt Pappas came up young and had his best years for the O’s.
He won two-hundred games, pitched one no-hitter. So it goes.
Floyd Youmans won just thirty games, most of them as a starter.
He was in the big trade that brought Mets old Gary Carter.
by Rick Young | May 10, 2014 | Poem
Ken Berry was a gold glove center fielder in the junior loop.
He was quite graceful in the outfield, like his namesake from F Troop.
John Cumberland had fifteen lifetime wins and not the best of arms.
The one best hope is that he somehow was connected to the Farms.
Joey Meyer hit the longest homer in pro history.
Why he couldn’t make it with Milwaukee’s still a mystery.
Robby Thompson played for San Francisco through his whole career.
Beaned in ninety-three by Hoffman. After that, he hit in fear.
by Rick Young | May 9, 2014 | Poem
Billy Jurges, good field shortstop, then manager, coach and scout,
Once was shot by jealous girlfriend, attempting to take him out.
Floyd Robinson played outfield under Al Lopez for the pale hose.
Went six-for-six in his third year. No at-bats could compare to those.
Tony Gwynn, a base hit god, was eight times N.L. batting champ.
"Mr. Padre" spent his twenty years in San Diego camp.
Prince Fielder matched his father Cecil’s fifty homers. That was nice.
The big first sacker later won the All Star home run derby, twice.
by Rick Young | May 8, 2014 | Poem
Ed Roush had great years with the Reds. Nobody can doubt that.
The Hall of Fame outfielder swung a forty-eight ounce bat.
Mike Cuellar’s baffling lefty tosses had movement aplenty.
With Orioles, he won a Cy and four times at least twenty.
Dennis Leonard was a workhorse righty for K.C.
Pitched thirteen years there until cut short by knee injury.
Adrian Gonzalez, a spray hitter with good pop,
Has played ten years with four teams, L.A. Dodgers latest stop.
by Rick Young | May 7, 2014 | Poem
Dick Williams guided Oakland A’s to two World Series rings.
He’d almost taken Sox there, but Bob Gibson screwed up things.
Claude Raymond was called "Frenchy," ’cause he was a Quebec guy.
For two straight years, his Topps card showed him with an unzipped fly.
Al Williams was a Nicaraguan righty with the Twins.
‘Twas with the Sandinistas that he scored his biggest wins.
Brook Fordyce was a catcher, brought up in the nutmeg state.
His best year was two-thousand, hit three-hundred at the plate.
by Rick Young | May 6, 2014 | Poem
Willie Mays, the "Say Hey Kid," just may have been the best.
He made The Catch. He made the Hall. You can look up the rest.
Russ Gibson lived the sixty-seven dream as a Red Sock.
He caught Bill Rohr’s near no-no, broken up by Howard’s knock.
Larry Anderson was in a bad trade. That’s the truth.
The Sox got him for Bagwell, biggest mistake since Babe Ruth.
Tom Bolton toiled for four teams but he didn’t often win.
He may be best remembered for his teeny, tiny chin.
by Rick Young | May 5, 2014 | Poem
Chief Bender was a pitcher who was heckled through his days.
He won two hundred twelve games, mostly for Connie Mack’s A’s.
Bob Cerv served Yanks and chipped in an occasional home run.
He roomed with Mick and Roger during nineteen sixty-one.
Don Buddin was a shortstop who engendered fielding terrors.
In five years with the Red Sox, the dude averaged thirty errors.
Tommy Helms played fourteen years. His fielding got high grades.
He didn’t strike out much and twice was swapped in major trades.
by Rick Young | May 4, 2014 | Poem
Mike Epstein got his ring with Oakland A’s, seventy-two.
Quite often hit by pitches, he was nicknamed "Super Jew."
Rene Lachemann was a catcher who went on to manage.
First skipper of Marlins, which was not to his advantage.
Ken Oberkfell, known best as bearded infielder with Cards,
Won one ring there then played for five more teams. The man’s seen yards.
Rick Leach came out of Michigan, a quarterback superb.
But he picked baseball, played ten years, then got kicked to the curb.
by Rick Young | May 3, 2014 | Poem
Eppa Rixey pitched twenty-one years as Phil and Red.
Elected to the Hall, at last, then, one month later, dead.
Red Ruffing pitched six years in Boston, often in the cellar.
He then got traded to the Yanks, where his career was stellar.
Chris Cannizzaro caught for thirteen years for six franchises.
Was on first Mets and Padres teams, otherwise no surprises.
Davey Lopes raised Dodger hopes by stealing many bases.
He’s back there now as first base coach, but he’s worked many places.
