The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-09
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(Unitsa Press Stan COrrespondent)
 New York;, Feb. e-(Up)-The death of Casey-hero of "Casey at the Bat" baseball's best known poem reminds us einphatically that color and situations in the national pastilne have had fer more to do with the popularity of the sport than batting averages or won-aE1d- lost figures.
 The poem about Mighty Casey was written in jest in 1888 by Er- nest l.. Thayer. Thayer apparently knew little about Casey when he penned his piece, for Casey, c south- paw pitcher, never had been mighty" at bat. In fact, old Dan often admitted in later years that he was about as important in wield- ing the wagon.tongue as the cur. rent Lefty Gomez. Casey batted about 200.
 But Thayer, Q Harvard graduate and son of e wealthy mill owner in Worcester, Mass, apparently got Q big kick out of e tense baseball situation in which Casey struck out. whether Thayer actually saw this memorable game in August, 1887, between the New York Giants and Casey's Philadelphia club, we do not know. Anyway, Thayer was visiting on the Pacific coast the fol. lowing winter and contributing oc-. casional poems to the newspapers there. He sent "Casey ct the Bat" to e San Francisco paper which published 1t under his initials, E.
 Immortal
 The poem attracted considerable attention and in May, 1888, DeWoh Hopper, star of the musical coYn- edy Prince Methusalem" at Wall lacks theater in New York, launched it upon the path to immortality. On a special night at Wallack's, young Hopper read 1t durnig the second act of 'Methusaleln." His recitation was given a laundering ovation. After that, Hopper re- cited "Casey" hundreds of times The comedian often said that the poem always received more applause than any of his other offerings. Other professional and amateur erl. tertainers also recited 1t throughout the land.
 Meanwhile, Casey, the somewhat flabbergasted hero of the poem, found himslef lifted to baseball trn- riortlity on a strike-out, probably the only man in the games history to make such flight. He became target for much good-natured bantering among his pals before the close of his playing career, which included mound work with VII mington, Indianapolis, Detr oIt, Philadelphia and, finally, Albany N. Y.
 Casey often wondered why Thayer had made him the hero of the fa- nous ''Mudville" game in Philadel- phia. His only possible explanation was that he had broken up @ game the week before in Boston with a home run, one of the few of his ca- reer, and Philadelphia fans were looking for repeat against the Giants.
 Tim Keefe of the Giant was pitching against Casey in the old Philadelphia ball park. It was the last of the ninth; New York was leading, 4-3; two men were out; runners were on second and third; 1t was Casey's turn at bat. The fans were yelling for q homer as Pitcher Keefe wound up and threw.
 "Close by the sturdy batsl11aIl the ball lnheeded sped.
 "'That ain't my style said Casey.
 "Strike one,' the umpire said"
 Backed Up Ump
 Casey always admitted that the umpire was correct in calling that first pitch and the second one strikes" He had nisjudged them, thinking them balls. The poem says the fans did not agree with the umpire. They yelled Fraud"
 "But scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed."
 This line in the poem always made Casey laugh heartily. He insisted that the audience wasn't awed, but that he was scared to death. The poem then explains that Casey's face grew stern and cold. The sheer was gone from his lips, but his teeth were clinched in hate. He pounded the plate with his bat.
 "And now the pitcher holds the
 ball, and now he lets 1t go, And now the air is shattered
 by the face of Casey's blow. "Oh somewhere in this favored
 land. the sun IS shining
 bright, "The band is playing sorne-
 where, and somewhere hearts
 are light; And somewhere men are laugh
 ing, and somewhere children
 shout, "But there is not joy in Mud
 ville-mighty Casey has
 struck out" Yes, in Washington. D. O., mighty Casey struck out last night. l But he left the nation rich legacy in Casey at the Bat"