1906

CASEY'S REVENGE

by Grantland Rice

CASEY'S REVENGE -

There were saddened hearts in Mudville for a week or even more;

There were muttered oaths and curses- every fan in town was sore.

"Just think," said one, "how soft it looked with Casey at the bat,

And then to think he'd go and spring a bush league trick like that!" -

All his past fame was forgotten- he was now a hopeless "shine."

They called him "Strike-Out Casey," from the mayor down the line;

And as he came to bat each day his bosom heaved a sigh,

While a look of hopeless fury shone in mighty Casey's eye. -

He pondered in the days gone by that he had been their king,

That when he strolled up to the plate they made the welkin ring;

But now his nerve had vanished, for when he heard them hoot

He "fanned" or "popped out" daily, like some minor league recruit. -

He soon began to sulk and loaf, his batting eye went lame;

No home runs on the score card now were chalked against his name;

The fans without exception gave the manager no peace,

For one and all kept clamoring for Casey's quick release. -

The Mudville squad began to slump, the team was in the air;

Their playing went from bad to worse- nobody seemed to care.

"Back to the woods with Casey!" was the cry from Rooters' Row.

"Get some one who can hit the ball, and let that big dub go!" -

The lane is long, some one has said, that never turns again,

And Fate, though fickle, often gives another chance to men;

And Casey smiled; his rugged face no longer wore a frown-

The pitcher who had started all the trouble came to town. -

All Mudville had assembled- ten thousand fans had come

To see the twirler who had put big Casey on the bum;

And when he stepped into the box, the multitude went wild;

He doffed his cap in proud disdain, but Casey only smiled. -

"Play ball!" the umpire's voice rang out, and then the game began.

But in that throng of thousands there was not a single fan

Who thought that Mudville had a chance, and with the setting sun

Their hopes sank low- the rival team was leading "four to one." -

The last half of the ninth came round, with no change in the score;

But when the first man up hit safe, the crowd began to roar;

The din increased, the echo of ten thousand shouts was heard

When the pitcher hit the second and gave "four balls" to the third. -

Three men on base- nobody out- three runs to tie the game!

A triple meant the highest niche in Mudville's hall of fame;

But here the rally ended and the gloom was deep as night,

When the fourth one "fouled to catcher" and the fifth "flew out to

right." -

A dismal groan in chorus came; a scowl was on each face

When Casey walked up, bat in hand, and slowly took his place;

His bloodshot eyes in fury gleamed, his teeth were clenched in hate;

He gave his cap a vicious hook and pounded on the plate. -

But fame is fleeting as the wind and glory fades away;

There were no wild and woolly cheers, no glad acclaim this day;

They hissed and groaned and hooted as they clamored: "Strike him

out!"

But Casey gave no outward sign that he had heard this shout. -

The pitcher smiled and cut one loose- across the plate it sped;

Another hiss, another groan. "Strike one!" the umpire said.

Zip! Like a shot the second curve broke just below the knee.

"Strike two!" the umpire roared aloud; but Casey made no plea. -

No roasting for the umpire now- his was an easy lot;

But here the pitcher whirled again- was that a rifle shot?

A whack, a crack, and out through the space the leather pellet flew,

A blot against the distant sky, a speck against the blue. -

Above the fence in center field in rapid whirling flight

The sphere sailed on- the blot grew dim and then was lost to sight.

Ten thousand hats were thrown in air, ten thousand threw a fit,

But no one ever found the ball that mighty Casey hit. -

O, somewhere in this favored land dark clouds may hide the sun,

And somewhere bands no longer play and children have no fun!

And somewhere over blighted lives there hangs a heavy pall,

But Mudville hearts are happy now, for Casey hit the ball. -