Illustration by Leroy Neiman
I remember him,
fooling with the umpires
at home plate before the game.
Then the grace in center field
and his coiled, effortless swing
like a snake waiting to strike.
I had every picture,
every baseball card,
and most of all,
we shared the same birthday May 6 (his 1931).
He brought cool to
the game of baseball,
ease and laughter.
I ho…
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