Right off the Bat: Baseball Ballads

audiobook

Right off the Bat: Baseball Ballads

by William Frederick Kirk

EN·~47 minutes·35 chapters

Chapters

35 total
1

JOHN BOURBON, PITCHER

1:12
2

SUNDAY BASEBALL

1:15
3

THE BIG LEAGUE

1:04
4

THE BALLAD OF THE MINOR LEAGUER

1:00
5

BALLADE OF A SUBSTITUTE

1:14
6

CASEY ON A BAT

1:06
7

THE PITCHER’S SOLILOQUY

0:59
8

BLESSED BE BASEBALL

0:58
9

RAYMOND’S RIDE

1:01
10

FOUR CONVERSATIONS

1:15

Description

A lively chorus of verses rolls across the diamond, voiced by a seasoned pitcher who measures his legacy against legends like Mike Kelley and Rusie. He boasts of outwitting greats, turning triumphs into rhyme while reminding listeners that every era has its own “pitcher like me.” The opening ballads blend swagger with humor, pulling the listener into a world where baseball becomes a grand, poetic contest.

From bustling tenement sandlots to the glitter of the big‑league lights, the collection follows hopeful youths, weary substitutes, and a minor‑leaguer chasing a dream. Each piece captures the rhythm of a Sunday game, the sting of ambition, and the quiet pride of those waiting on the bench. The poems celebrate the sport’s history and its enduring spirit, offering listeners a nostalgic, sing‑along portrait of America’s favorite pastime.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~47 minutes (45K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.)

Release date

2011-02-12

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

William Frederick Kirk

William Frederick Kirk

1877–1927

A lively early-20th-century newspaper wit, he mixed humor, verse, and baseball writing in a way that made him popular with a wide American audience. His work ranges from light poetry and songs to sports columns with a quick, conversational touch.

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