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Post by oldtimer on Mar 31, 2014 10:21:25 GMT -5
As I sit back in my leather chair in a semi doze, my memory slips back to youthful days and the excitement of Opening Day in Baseball...Most of my thrills were memories gathered at the old Polo Grounds...I would like to share this poem written by Eric Compton in 1958....It hangs in my den...Every so often I read it, and tears will flow...Its been many years but I am sure there a few Oldtimers left who will bath in its melancholy...
I must journey Coogans bluff again
For a final lingering gaze.
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Post by oldtimer on Mar 31, 2014 11:03:52 GMT -5
Sorry fellows...I was in process of typing the great poem when my right hand slipped again and sent only as far as I typed...There are many verses...I'll get my daughter to post it in a simple way that I am incapable of doing...I'll however try to finish the first verse....
And, as memory's flame burns bright and hot,
Mays and Hubbell and Terry and OTT.
The Duke of Tralee, and the flying Scott
Loom up in the gathering haze....
It gets better and usually reprinted in the NY Post every year about this time...
Just a little test for you Baseball fans......
What pitcher started 16 opening day games....?
What pitcher started 14 opening day games with 9 of them shutouts.?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2014 11:26:23 GMT -5
Sorry fellows...I was in process of typing the great poem when my right hand slipped again and sent only as far as I typed...There are many verses...I'll get my daughter to post it in a simple way that I am incapable of doing...I'll however try to finish the first verse.... And, as memory's flame burns bright and hot, Mays and Hubbell and Terry and OTT. The Duke of Tralee, and the flying Scott Loom up in the gathering haze.... It gets better and usually reprinted in the NY Post every year about this time... Just a little test for you Baseball fans...... What pitcher started 16 opening day games....? What pitcher started 14 opening day games with 9 of them shutouts.? I'm a baseball guy so the first question was easy, Tom Seaver but i'm not too sure of the second question. I'm going to have to go with sandy Koufax or maybe even Nolan Ryan. |
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Post by qs on Mar 31, 2014 13:48:24 GMT -5
We're calling ball fans
All you Giant ball fans
Come watch the home team
Going places
'round the bases
Cheer for your favorites
Out at Coogan's Bluff
You'll see those Polo Grounders
Do their stuff!
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Post by oldtimer on Mar 31, 2014 15:23:32 GMT -5
Gordan4mvp........Seaver right on...Good knowledge...............
Other player goes back a little before my time.....I was about 6 when he pitched his last game in I believe 1930-31 .......All time great...
Walter Johnston
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Post by qs on Mar 31, 2014 16:45:02 GMT -5
Just remembered I have somewhere a large photo of Mize, Willard Marshall, and Ott. Ott was relatively small so he had to swing harder!
Curiously, in a dream last night some "announcer" said Mize was the best pull hitter ever. Indeed, he pulled the ball down that short right field line in the Polo Grounds and i'm not sure anybody could stop him from doing it.
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Post by oldtimer on Mar 31, 2014 17:48:56 GMT -5
I decided poem was to long to post, so I will only do the last few verses which to me is a sports masterpiece written I believe by a member of the Univ. of Penn teaching Staff. he titled it........
AVE ATQUE VALE
(HAIL AND FAIRWELL)
Oh, where are they now, our heroes of old?
Their shrine is soon destined to fall.
Under a cold and cheerless sky
The Harlem, eternal unheeding flows by.
Those barren stands which deserted lie
In wait for the wreckers ball.
For the last out is entered now in the book,
The scoreboard is blank and the crowd
Has slowly filed out with a last adieu
The empty seats wait for the wrecking crew.
Oh high, where once so proudly they flew,
The flags, like our heads, are bowed.
The last knell has sounded, my visit is done,
And the darkness deepens anon.
I cross the outfield, walk under the "EL"
And stand on the Speedway looking out o'er the dell.
To the park that I loved, to my idols. Farewell!
The Giants .. my Giants .. are gone.
#
And a little bit of my youth went with them....
l
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Post by ic59 on Apr 2, 2014 9:04:26 GMT -5
OT, it's posts like this that makes you the BEST poster on this board. Thanks for the memories. And for sharing your trunk full of sports history with us young guys.
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Post by Cjb on Apr 2, 2014 12:58:30 GMT -5
Opening Day Baseball, the Mets have Cirque du Soliel in a chunk of their parking lot.
The parking lot closes early and thousands of Met fans are stuck in traffic for hours and can't find any place to park when the do finally get there.
I was one of them. Got so disgusted, I ended up eating my tickets and returned to Westchester where watched the game over a burger and brew at a local watering hole.
A total money grab and another prime example of the Met ownership (Wilpons) having little regard for their fans. They're killing National League baseball in NY.
I wish I could have my DNA genetically altered to not be a fan of this team.
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Post by ghostofwillard on Apr 2, 2014 17:29:08 GMT -5
Opening Day Baseball, the Mets have Cirque du Soliel in a chunk of their parking lot. The parking lot closes early and thousands of Met fans are stuck in traffic for hours and can't find any place to park when the do finally get there. I was one of them. Got so disgusted, I ended up eating my tickets and returned to Westchester where watched the game over a burger and brew at a local watering hole. A total money grab and another prime example of the Met ownership (Wilpons) having little regard for their fans. They're killing National League baseball in NY. I wish I could have my DNA genetically altered to not be a fan of this team. I love the Mets, hate the Wilpons. Use to go to about 20 games a year, last year I went to 1 Met game (when they played the Yankees in the Bronx) I refuse to give these incompetent people any of my money. BTW, no matter what they say, I will always believe they were aware of what Madoff was up to. They are terrible owners because their passion is making money, not winning baseball games or championships! |
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Post by Cjb on Apr 3, 2014 6:27:53 GMT -5
Opening Day Baseball, the Mets have Cirque du Soliel in a chunk of their parking lot. The parking lot closes early and thousands of Met fans are stuck in traffic for hours and can't find any place to park when the do finally get there. I was one of them. Got so disgusted, I ended up eating my tickets and returned to Westchester where watched the game over a burger and brew at a local watering hole. A total money grab and another prime example of the Met ownership (Wilpons) having little regard for their fans. They're killing National League baseball in NY. I wish I could have my DNA genetically altered to not be a fan of this team. I love the Mets, hate the Wilpons. Use to go to about 20 games a year, last year I went to 1 Met game (when they played the Yankees in the Bronx) I refuse to give these incompetent people any of my money. BTW, no matter what they say, I will always believe they were aware of what Madoff was up to. They are terrible owners because their passion is making money, not winning baseball games or championships! Maybe they can rent out the other half of the lot to Wringling Brothers. Team stinks. |
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Post by ghostofwillard on Apr 3, 2014 11:12:29 GMT -5
I love the Mets, hate the Wilpons. Use to go to about 20 games a year, last year I went to 1 Met game (when they played the Yankees in the Bronx) I refuse to give these incompetent people any of my money. BTW, no matter what they say, I will always believe they were aware of what Madoff was up to. They are terrible owners because their passion is making money, not winning baseball games or championships! Maybe they can rent out the other half of the lot to Wringling Brothers. Team stinks. I agree, this maybe one of the longest years ever, and the Mets have had long ones, 100 loses very possible! |
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Post by oldtimer on Apr 3, 2014 11:40:09 GMT -5
We had the same type parking years ago.....The situation has changed little, but the tolerance of the fan has changed....Today it seems that every fan car coming to the game would not be satisfied unless they were allowed to park right next to the dugout and arriving 10 minutes before the 1st pitch...
Maybe, with more inconveniences, we learned to deal with them...When we were aware there would be large crowds, we would park close to a El or Subway station, even though it may be a few miles away, then take the train to the Ball Park...Of course the train only cost 5 cents back then, but even though it, I believe now cost $2.50, it is much cheaper then todays parking fee.....
My father and the gang would always park some where near the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, then catch the train to 161st and the Concourse a few minute walk to Yankee Stadium, or walk about 10 minutes across the Harlem River to the Polo Grounds...
The anticipation of the game always overcome the inconvenience of getting there...
Of course the games took a lot less time then...A double header with the St. Louis Cards took less then 4 hours...If Carl Hubbell and Hal Shumacker were to face the Dean brothers, you could be sure it would take less then that......
Todays umpire challenge have taken away a part of the games fun....One time Casey Stengel after a close call bowed to the umpire and took his hat off...Out of it flew a bird that he had captured in the dugout a while back, and waited for the right moment to release it...The crowd roared its appreciation...
A little bit of Baseball's enjoyment flew off with the bird....
It looks like winter has finally taken it bow...I am going out for a wheelchair ride around Iona's grounds, so I won't be a bother for a while...........
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Post by ghostofwillard on Apr 3, 2014 14:39:35 GMT -5
Maybe they can rent out the other half of the lot to Wringling Brothers. Team stinks. I agree, this maybe one of the longest years ever, and the Mets have had long ones, 100 loses very possible! I starting to think that 100 number maybe a tad bit conservative |
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Post by tootie223 on Apr 4, 2014 8:22:36 GMT -5
I do not follow baseball - I am a Mets fan and I have no idea what they are playing. Then again, neither do they  |
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