Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-13
Casey's Revenge.

There we're saddened hearts in Mudviile
for n week or even more;
There were muttcred oathS and curses
every fan in town was sore; T.. n
..Iust think" said one, how soit IL
looked with Casey at the bat.
Ana th.n to think he'd go and spring IL
hush league trick like that
All his past fame was forgotten-he was
now a hopeless ''shine'-
Thev called him "Strike-Out Casey from
the Mayor down the line. -
And rs he came to bat each day his
bosom heaVed q sigh, =,
While n look of hopeless fury shone III
mighty CaSey'S eye.
He Wondered in the days gone by that he
had been their king;
That when he stroiled up to the pii'e
they made the wclkin ring:
But now his nerve had VaniShed-lor
when he heard them hOot, ,,,.4
He Tanned or popped out" daily, ike
some minor league recruit.
He soon began to sulk and loaf-his bat
ting eye went lame;
No home runs on the score card now
were chalked against his name
The fans without exception gave tne
manager no peace,
For on" ana ali kept clamoring for
Casey's quick release.
The Mudvlle 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 inc
cry from RJaters Row;
Get someone who can hit the ball ami
let that big dub go.
The lane is long, someone has said, that
never turns again,
And Fate. though tickle. often gives an
other chance to men;
And Casey Snliled-hiS rugged face no
longer wore frown- ;,
The pitcher who had started all the
trouble came TO town.
All Mudville had asSembled-ten th0nsan
fans had come
To sec the tWirlcr who had put big Casey
on the bum;
And when he stepped into the box the
multitude went wild.
He doned his cap in proud diadam-but
casey only smiled.
"Play ball."-thc umpire's voice rang out
and then the game began,
But i'll that throng of thousands there
was not Il single fan
Who thought that Mudvilln had chance.
and with the setting sun
Then heroes sunk low--the rival team
was leading four to one.
The last half of the ninth came round,
with 10 change in the score,
But when the first man UP hit safe the
crowd began to roar:
The din incrcascd-thr echo of ten thou
sand shoutS WAS heard
When the pitcher hit the second and
gave four balls to the third.
Three men on base-nohody out-three
runs To tie the game.
A triple meant the highest niche in Mud
vlle's hall Of fame
But here the rally ended and the gloom
was deep as night
When No. fouled to catcher and ; 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 hloodshot cy's in fury gleamed-hiS
teeth We're Clenched in hate
He gave his cap q vicious hook and
pounded on the plate.
But fame is t1eeting as the wind and
glory fades away:
There were no wild and woolIy cheer-no
glad acclaim this daN:
They hisSed and grIaned ana hooted as
they clamor"d. Strike him uut!'
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 his knee
'STRIkE TWO" the umpire roarcd
aloud-but Casey made no plea.
No roasting for the umpire now-hi; was
an easy lot:
But her" the pitcher whirled again-was
that a rife shot?
A wh2ck,a rrack-and ont through space
the leather pellet flew
A blot against the distant eky-a speck
against the bIu".
Above the fence in center field in rapid
whirlnG flight
The sphere sailed nn-the blot grew dim
and then WAS lost to sight.
Ten Thousand hats were thrown in air
len Thousand threw 2 fit
i'ht no one ever found the ball that
mighty Casey hit
bh. somtwh"re in this favored land dark
clouds may hid" the sun
Ana somewhere bands no longer play and
children have no fun:
ana somewhere over hlifhted lives there
hangs Il heavy pail:
Bu' midwife hearts are happy now
FOR CASEY HIT THE BALI,
cleveland News.