"You Really Like Baseball?"
One Man's Answer:

"Of course I like baseball!" he bellowed.
"I like;
All nine innings and knee high strikes
The diamond cut by flashing spikes.
The infield hit, a long home run
Doubleheaders, the radar gun.
The curve, the knuckler, slider and spitter.
A slugfest or the chance no-hitter.
The majors, the minors, the kids, the vets
The "Whiz Kids," the "Amazing Mets."
The squeeze bunt and the hit and run
The double steal on three and one.
The infield fly rule, the intentional pass
Both real and artificial grass.
The Texas leaguer and Baltimore chop
The routine grounder or astro turf hop.
Signs to take and signs to steal
Beating the deadline with a late night deal.
The brush back pitch, the managers warned
The visiting star locally scorned.
Balls with eyes and rain delays
Around the horn double plays.
Walking leads and frozen ropes
Bloops, blasts and springtime hopes.
Louisville Sluggers by H&B
The game of the week and cable TV.
Descriptions like "Good field-no-hit"
Or "Tools of ignorance" behind a catcher's mitt.
Diving catches and trapped fly balls
Coaches bemoaning bang-bang calls.
The pickoff move and stealing home
Games in the sun or under a dome.
Passed balls, or real wild pitches
The colorful suits with new stretch britches.
Walks, balks and fielder's choices
Inside the parkers, leatherlunged voices.
Crashing the fences and charging the plate
An irate skipper getting the gate.
Cold beer, peanuts and ball park franks
Sometimes even the New York Yanks.
For all this and more I have good reason
To be pleased as hell it's baseball season.
And if guys like you don't mind suggestions,
Go somewhere else with your silly questions."

-Papa Joe Chevalier, 1984