"KIss Ruth's Record Goodbye"

A long, long time ago ---
10-1-’61 – do you recall?
Maris worked his magic in baseball
Tho’ he’d three more games to o’ertake,
And still four more than that to break,
No steroids helped him make Ruth’s record fall.
With that last dinger he delivered
Some fans cheered, others quivered,
Unenthused. One more rip,
That break-the-record score-trip,
That final rocket Roger skied,
No Fenway fence could keep inside.
He was both cheered and villified
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

Because they’re somewhat sort on shove
Most deep-hit fly balls find a glove
So they’re just loud outs, who cares?
And tho’ a few fall in and roll
An in-the-ballpark four-bag stroll
Is something that is vanishingly scarce.
There were none of those for Mister M.:
All sixty-one big bangs by him
Were rockets sent to cruise
When Number Nine had lit the fuse.
Yes, 'when the bombing Bronxman’s stance he’d struck
-- he would brink the plate and bat by left ear tuck --
The man a-mound was out of luck
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

Now, some cynics swear that it’s clearly shown
That Roger’s rep was overblown:
“He batted in the order number three,
And with Mick up next,” critics carped with spleen,
“They had to pitch him by routine,
Off’ring choice, not just a lame first base for free.”
Oh, why do cynics brook to crown
New besters who knock old kings down?
Why was Roger’s record spurned?
Why the shouts of “It’s unearned!”
It seems some folk believe some marks
Should never know new shadows’ dark --
And mossbacks caviled in the park
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

“Shelter, shelter, from the “Summer Belter!”
Thought hurlers who faced at-bats against the pelter
“Late full counts must end at last …
Should I give the guy a pass
Or slice the plate with my best gas --
The acid test -- and risk another Maris blast?”
Now his plate approach brought clouds of gloom
To Stallard’s mein (he’d felt the boom
Of Roger’s lashing lance
And didn’t want another chance).
Poor Tracy, tho’, his nerves he steeled,
And vainly hoped he wouldn’t yield
The homer that would seal the deal
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

Oh what a pair they were in that season’s race --
The Mick and Maris both on pace
To end Ruth’s thirty-four-year reign,
So on they went, before fans and Frick,
Two Yank sluggers stick-to-stick
Trying each his clout count to extend.
Oh, what drama on that diamond stage!
To watch those two slamsmiths engage
In what both did so well.
Who’d triumph? None could tell.
And tho’ bad hips stole Mantle’s might
Before the last round of the fight
Roger stayed to douse the light
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

Now tho’ one might expect boo-hoos
How sad that cheers were marred by boos
At Roger’s record solo shot that day,
Despite that that run made the score
1-0 and it took no more
To put the 6th-place Sox away.
And all the news sheets’ headlines screamed
“Swat’s Sultanate is New-Regimed!”
And my heart’s, like Ruth’s record’s broken
That never has Cooperstown token
Yet honored Roger or his ghost,
For, fair-and-square, he homered most
And I for one did raise a toast
The day Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballparks love and animus vied
On the day that Ruth’s record died.

And fans were singin’
“Bye-bye! Kiss Ruth’s record good-bye!”
“A record bleacher–reacher!” was the PA-man’s cry.
“That’s good!” alloyed with “That stinks!” I heard cried –
In the ballpark when Babe Ruth’s record died.