Wags

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Melville Nine that day.
The score stood 2-1 but with one more inning left to play.
And so when the Greek grounded out and Toomy did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few near the Wildcat bench got up to leave.
The rest clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast.
They thought if only Wags could get a chance at that.
They would put up even money now with Wags at the bat.

But Dandy preceded Casey as did also Stevie Blake
And the latter was a fabulist and the former was a fake.
So upon this stricken multitude, melancholy sat
For there seemed little chance Wags would ever get to bat.

But Dandy let drive a single and to the wonderment of all,
Blake, the much maligned, tore the cover off the ball.
And when the dust had lifted, they saw what had occurred.
There was Blake safe at Second and Dandy perched at Third.

Then from two hundred throats rose up a muffled roar.
You could hear it from Steer Inn to across the Huntington shore.
It shook the South Cafeteria and the North Gym where the cheerleaders sat.
Wags, mighty Wags was advancing to the bat..

Four hundred eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.
Wags put on that fur lined mitten he hid under his WILDCAT shirt.
And while the fearsome Northport pitcher dug the ball into his hip.
Defiance gleamed in Wags eye, a sneer curled Wags lip.

And now the leather covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
but Wags stood a watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the skinny batsman, the ball unheeded sped.
That ain't my style said Wags. STRIKE ONE the umpire said.

Coach Ralph turned crimson like the time in April when MLK was shot.
He yelled back to the umpire in that booming voice I THINK NOT!
But with a smile of Jewish benevolence, Wags personalty shone.
He stopped the rising tumult. He bade the game go on.

He signaled to the pitcher and once more the spheroid flew.
But Wags still ignored it and the umpire said STRIKE TWO!
Fraud! Cried the freeloaders at Wildcat Field and the echo answered FRAUD!
But one startled look from Wags and the audience was awed.

The smile is gone from Wags face; His teeth are clenched in hate.
And with cruel violence, he pounds his Jackie Robinson model on the plate
And now the Tiger pitcher has the ball and now he lets it go 
And now the air is shattered by the force of Wags blow.

Oh , somewhere in South Huntington, people believe soon there won't be snow.
And somewhere Whitman opens up on time and we all get younger you know.
And in a week or so pitchers and catchers report and somewhere children shout.
But we all remember the year of MLK, RFK and when Wags hit one out.