AUDIENCE PARTICIPATIONS

Casey at the Bat

San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils

Casey:                             “That’s me”

Fans:                        Cheering sound

Bat or Ball :                       “It’s a hit”

Now enjoy this famous poem.

Casey at the Bat

by Ernest L. Thayer

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day,
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the fans of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast.
They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that.
We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."
But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake;
and the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake.
So upon that stricken multitude, grim melancholy sat;
for there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.
But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all.
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball.
And when the dust had lifted, and the fans saw what had occurred,
there was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.
Then from five thousand fans and more there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley; it rattled in the dell;
it pounded through on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat;
for Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
there was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
no stranger in the fans could doubt t'was Casey at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.
Five thousand fans applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then, while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped -
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said.
From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some fans on the stand,
and it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.
With a smile of Christian charity, great Casey's visage shone,
he stilled the rising tumult, he bade the game go on.
He signaled to the pitcher and once more the dun sphere flew,
but Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two!"
"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered "Fraud!"
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold; they saw his muscles strain,
and they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
The sneer has fled from Casey's lip; the teeth are clenched in hate.
He pounds, with cruel violence, his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout, ]
but there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.

A Day at the Ball Game

Baltimore Area Council

Divide audience into four groups. Assign each group a response to say when their word is said in the story.  Practice as you assign parts.

Johnny....................... “Cheer, Cheer”

Den Leader................ ”Happy, Happy”

Umpire................... ”Blind As A Bat”

Kirby............................... “Our Hero”

One fine day Johnny’s (____) Den Leader (____) decided to take his Den to a ball game. Johnny (____)  was so excited because his idol Kirby (____) was playing that day. The Den Leader (____) and some of the parents loaded all the boys into their cars and headed for the ballpark.

On the way to the game, the Den Leader (____) pointed to a man in another car and asked, “Why would a person put on such a dark suit on such a warm day?” Johnny (____) looked at the man and exclaimed,   “He’s an umpire!  (____) I wonder if he is going to the game?” Sure enough, when Kirby (____) and the other players ran onto the field, out strolled the same umpire (____) that Johnny (____) and his Den Leader (____) saw on the way to the game.

When Kirby (____)  ran out to his fielder’s position, Johnny (____) and all the other people cheered for they knew Kirby (____) was a great player.  The Umpire (____) called “Play Ball” Everyone was on the edge of their seats as the pitcher took his sign, wound up and delivered his first pitch. “Crack” went the bat and a long fly ball was headed toward Kirby (____).  Back Kirby (____) ran, nearer and nearer to the fence, until he was right up against it. At the last minute he made a great leap into the air and the ball thudded into Kirby’s (____) glove.  Johnny (____)., his Den Leader (____) and everyone cheered as the Umpire (____) signaled “He’s Out.” The pitcher then struck out the next two batters with the Umpire (____) calling the strikes real loud.

Now it was Kirby’s (____) teams turn at bat. Johnny (____) was hoping Kirby (____) would hit a home run. First man up, “Crack,” a single.  The next batter also singled and now to bat came Kirby (____).  Johnny (____),  his Den Leader (____), and everyone was cheering and hollering for Kirby (____) to hit a good one. “Strike One”, called the Umpire (____) and Johnny’s (____) heart came up in his throat. “Strike Two”, called the Umpire (____), and Johnny’s (____) heart sank. The pitcher took his sign, checked the runners, wound up, and delivered. “Crack” went the bat and Johnny (____) knew Kirby (____) had hit a long one. Back, back went the fielder, clear to the wall. He leaped, but the ball hit the wall above him. Kirby (____) was churning his wheels around first, around second, heading for third. In came the ball and Kirby (____) hit the dirt. “Safe” yelled the Umpire (____).  Johnny (____), his Den Leader (____) , and everyone cheered.

Johnny (____) was real happy because although his idol Kirby (____) had not hit a home run, he had hit a triple. And that is as close as any idol can come to what is expected of him. Therefore, Johnny (____) , his Den Leader (____), and everyone went home happy.