Reply #30: On that note...

[Oeditpus Rex]

How dear to my heart was the old-fashioned batter
who scattered line drives from the spring to the fall

He did not resemble the up-to-date batter
who swings from the heels and misses the ball

The up-to-date batter I'm not very strong for
He shatters the ozone with all of his might

And that is the reason I hanker and long for
those who doubled to left, and tripled to right

The old-fashioned batter
The eagle-eyed batter
The thinking man's batter
Who tripled to right



And...



How dear to my heart was the old-fashioned hurler
who labored all day on the old village green

He did not resemble the up-to-date twirler
who pitches four innings and ducks from the scene

The up-to-date twirler I’m not very strong for
He has a queer habit of pulling up lame

And that is the reason I hanker and long for
the pitcher who started and finished the game

The old-fashioned pitcher
The iron-armed pitcher
The stout-hearted pitcher
Who finished the game



—George Phair