A Baseball Poem by Jim “Mudcat” Grant

Off day for the Dodgers today. They return to Dodger Stadium to take on the Astros for a three game series starting Friday. Memorial Day starts a four game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Yep! Ryan Braun and company will be here at Dodger Stadium.

Since we have a day off, I decided to post this Baseball poem by Jim “Mudcat” Grant. I got to meet Mudcat during the 60′s team reunion done in the Loge section at Dodger Stadium in 2008.

“LIFE”
A BASEBALL POEM BY JIM “MUDCAT” GRANT

LIFE IS LIKE A GAME OF BASEBALL
AND YOU PLAY IT EVERYDAY
IT ISN’T JUST THE BREAKS YOU GET
BUT THE KIND OF GAME YOU PLAY

STOP AND LOOK THE WHOLE TEAM OVER
YOU’VE GOT DEDICATION THERE
YOU’RE BOUND TO BE A WINNER
WITH MEN WHO REALLY CARE

AT FIRST BASE THERE’S RELIGION
YOU’VE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME
AT THIRD BASE THERE’S BROTHERHOOD
THE STALWART OF THE NINE

YOUR LEFT FIELDER IS AMBITION
DON’T EVER LET HIM SHIRK
RIGHT FIELDER IS A HUSKY MAN
YOU’LL FIND HIS NAME IS WORK

YOUR CENTER FIELDER IS VERY FAST
THOUGH SMALL AND HARD TO SEE
SO WATCH WHEN HE GETS THE BALL
HE’S OPPORTUNITY

YOUR PITCHER’S NAME IS COURAGE
YOU NEED HIM IN THIS GAME
FOR TRUTH AND FAITH YOUR KEYSTONE MEN
THE GROUND THAT THEY WILL TAME

YOUR CATCHER’S NAME IS HUMOR
HE’S IMPORTANT TO THE SCHEME
WHILE HONOR IS PITCHING FROM THE BULLPEN
YOUR GAME IS ALWAYS CLEAN

WITH LOVE ON YOUR BENCH
YOU’RE PERFECTION NO LESS
AND A WINNING TEAM
WITH JOY AND HAPPINESS

NOW THE OTHER TEAM IS STRONG
GREED, ENVY, HATRED AND DEFEAT
ARE FOUR STRONG INFIELDERS YOU’LL HAVE TO BUCK
TO MAKE YOUR GAME COMPLETE

DISCOURAGEMENT AND FALSEHOOD
ARE THE BIG BOYS IN THE PEN
YOU’LL HAVE TO SWING HARD
WHEN YOU MEET UP WITH THESE MEN

CARELESSNESS AND A MAN CALLED WASTE
YOU’LL FIND THEM PLAYING HARD
AND SELFISHNESS AND JEALOUSY
NONE CAN DISREGARD

THERE IS ONE MORE MAN YOU’LL HAVE TO WATCH
HE’S ALWAYS VERY NEAR
HE’S THE PITCHER FOR THIS TEAM
I’M TOLD HIS NAME IS FEAR

THIS GAME WILL NOT BE EASY
THERE’LL BE STRUGGLES AND THERE’LL BE STRIFE
TO MAKE THE WINNING RUNS
IT’S PLAYED ON THE FIELD OF LIFE

SO STAND BEHIND THE GOOD TEAM
THERE’LL BE MANY WHO’LL APPLAUD
JUST REMEMBER YOU ARE THE PLAYERS
BUT THE UMPIRE THERE IS GOD