Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, to all the guys out there: And here is a twist on a Christmas great:

'Twas the night before baseball season,and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The gloves and balls were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that BASEBALL soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of base hits danced in their heads;
And mamma in her Mets shirt, and I in my Met hat,
Were trying to shake a long winter snap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The sun was shining on some old brown grass,
And I knew that winter would soon pass,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But eighteen teen boys and girls with bats and gloves, screaming its a new year
Than all of a sudden appeared a man with a mask, and dressed in blue
He looked like he knew just what to do,
Then I heard the man call. Its time to play ball
More rapid than eagles his encouragement came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
Strike, ball, safe, and out it is time to play ball not to pout.

It was the top of the seventh and a lad hit the ball
It appeared to be heading for the left field wall
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
The young left fielder took to the sky;
And as the ball seemed to be heading out of sight
The young man reached it at the top of the flight
The game had ended with a sudden flair
Leaving the visiting team in despair
But to my astonishment there were no tears
As both teams gathered and there were cheers,
For the rightful passage of another spring game
Meant the rest of the summer would be the same
Although I am a chubby and plump, jolly old elf,
I laughed and said, in spite of myself;
I will grab my glove and bat and start to believe
Because soon I will start playing in the 55 league;
So to my teammates and fellow players galore
I say welcome to baseball season once more.

Love all my teammates and friends of the senior baseball league: Fred