So this morning the inspiration came to me to compose an edited version of Ernest L. Thayer's "Casey at the Bat" poem to commemorate last night's game. Here it is;
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the St. Louis nine that day,
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Rodriguez struck out weakly, and Mabry did the same,
The Houston fans excitedly awaited the end of the game.
But Eckstein snuck in a single, to the wonderment of all.
And Edmonds, the previously ejected, refused to swing at four balls.
And when the dust had lifted,
and men saw what had occurred,
there was Eckstein safe at second and Edmonds standing on first.
Suddenly the Cardinals had the chance to pull themselves right off the mat, for Albert, Prince Albert, was advancing to the bat.
There was business in Albert’s manner as he stepped into his place,
there was pride in Albert’s bearing, but not a smile lit his face.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Albert took a swing, but the ball didn’t go anywhere.
"Strike one!" the umpire said.
From the stands, packed with people, there went up a boisterous roar,
from forty-three thousand who were waiting for two more.
And now the un-hittable Lidge holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now Minute Maid is silenced by the force of Albert’s blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,
That place is St. Louis,
Prince Albert just hit it out.
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the St. Louis nine that day,
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Rodriguez struck out weakly, and Mabry did the same,
The Houston fans excitedly awaited the end of the game.
But Eckstein snuck in a single, to the wonderment of all.
And Edmonds, the previously ejected, refused to swing at four balls.
And when the dust had lifted,
and men saw what had occurred,
there was Eckstein safe at second and Edmonds standing on first.
Suddenly the Cardinals had the chance to pull themselves right off the mat, for Albert, Prince Albert, was advancing to the bat.
There was business in Albert’s manner as he stepped into his place,
there was pride in Albert’s bearing, but not a smile lit his face.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Albert took a swing, but the ball didn’t go anywhere.
"Strike one!" the umpire said.
From the stands, packed with people, there went up a boisterous roar,
from forty-three thousand who were waiting for two more.
And now the un-hittable Lidge holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now Minute Maid is silenced by the force of Albert’s blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,
That place is St. Louis,
Prince Albert just hit it out.
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