Candlestick Park, 1966

Candlestick Park, 1966

~ A Pantoum ~

By John Schmidtke

The ’66 Giants played at Candlestick,
McCovey on first, in center Willie Mays—
His cap flying off, and his basket-catch trick.
Dad would leave for Vietnam in a few days.

McCovey on first, in center “Say Hey” Mays,
Gaylord Perry spit balls to Haller at the plate.
Dad would leave for Vietnam in a few days,
And baseball with me was his boys-day-out date.
 
Perry threw spitballs to Haller at the plate,
Juan Marichal kicked high on the pitcher’s mound,
For the next year, Mom watched the news, early and late,
Willing Dad’s war-tour’s end to come around.
 
With Marichal’s high kick on the pitcher’s mound
—His record that year was 25 and 6—
We willed Dad’s war-tour’s end to come around
As the Giants played baseball in Candlestick.

John Schmidtke lives in Honolulu where he watches MLB.tv at his desk from his office chair while longing to be watching live from the right field bleachers.  Family trips to the mainland are planned around seeing a baseball game, majors or minors.  Last August he sat in the shade behind the first base dugout and rooted for the home team—the New Hampshire Fisher Cats—as they played the first of a twin bill. 

Jeff Brain is a retired public school teacher. You can find more of his art on his website or on Instagram.

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