Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Nov. 5, 1850 - Oct. 30, 1919

 

Sounds From The Baseball Field

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Batter in the home place,
That was nobly done;
Try and get the first base --
Run! RUN! RUN!
Ah, there, short stop, will you miss?
Hear the people cheer and hiss,
Hear them yell and shout.
Twinkling legs and flying feet --
(Oh, I wonder who will beat!)
Faster, faster, out!
Umpire, umpire, go along;
That was wrong, sir, that was wrong.

Pitcher pitches, four balls,
Take your base, my man.
Toward the second now he crawls --
Steal it if you can.
Oh, the ball has gone so high,
Can they catch it on the fly?
Ah, there is no doubt,
He will get his third, I vow --
Pshaw! the ball has got there now,
Two men out!
Umpire, umpire, that was wrong;
Go along, sir, go along.

One man on the first base,
Not a single run.
Boys are warming to the race --
Now look out for fun.
Pitcher's arm maybe is tired;
Batter sudden seems inspired,
Grounds the ball to win.
Run there, run there, run your best,
I am screaming with the rest:
Two men in!
Umpire, umpire, go away;
Dead wrong, dead wrong, sir, I say.

What's the matter now, pray?
Taking breath, that's all;
But the restless people say
Play ball, play ball.
One ball, two strikes, two balls -- Foul
Umpire calls, and people howl:
What is he about?
Run, run, run, run, Run, RUN, RUN!
Half the inning now is done,
Three men out!
Umpire, umpire, go along;
You are always, always wrong.

Source:

How Salvator Won And Other Recitations
Copyright 1891
Edgar S. Werner, New York