A Haibun of Bats and Gloves

A Haibun of Bats and Gloves

Matthew Lawrence

Illustration by Elliot Lin

Marquis Grissom Sr’s bat was never swung once by hands with gloves. Timber fit for a first baseman rather than the stuff of a center fielder. Never a standout batter, his bat was the star of the show on offense. Made for an easy pull to the opposite field and a ready-run for the speedy outfielder—

A 35”,

Hillerich & Bradsby, a

tape roll at the knob.

Will Clark’s batting gloves found a second life in duck hunting the marshes of Louisiana and they traveled from Baton Rouge to Argentina where Will holds the record for most doves and pigeons plucked from the sky in a day. Hands and eyes that never miss made Will a helluva player, and now, a helluva marksman—

Dirty with path dirt,

blackened by pine tar, now pull

triggers at Teal Ducks.

Barry Bond’s bat was a short, stubby thing. A club-like stick, thickset for that inside pitch but just long enough to get the head around for an outside slider, a mistake that pitchers had to make, the devil’s bargain for throwing a strike that was usually an opposite-field homer—

Bludgeon of baseballs,

two-toned, black and red. Golden

bat smiling, wings spread.

Willie May’s gloves were the recipients of all our wonder. The Say Hey! Kid wore a mitt remarkably larger than his giant fists and changed the manufacturer often. Willie’s gloves, spread wide for an over-the-shoulder catch, are the franchise’s Golden Fleece worn by their Jason—

Twelve and a quarter,

Rawlings or MacGregor, both

 Make a Say Hey! Kid

Buster’s mitt was simple like him. He never changed the manufacturer or type in his time with the Giants and he never played for another franchise. A ball player out of his time and one of the only Giants with World Series Championships. Though he tied with everyone at third on the list for catching perfect games, he played first base for the fourth of his tenure. Name another catcher to do that—

Lincecum, Heston,

and Cain—three rings fit inside, 

Rawlings Heart of Hide.

Matthew Lawrence is a writer who works out of his home in Missoula, MT. Matt is a lifelong Giants fan who prefers to take games in on the radio. When not writing, he can be found patiently teaching his daughter about all his favorite sports, their heroes, and their villains. Occasionally, he’ll catch a Missoula Paddleheads game from his bike.

Elliot Lin is a college student who spends their free time musing about sports and how they shape or reflect identity. You can find their other baseball-related illustrations here, on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram.

The Twin Bill is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. You can support The Twin Bill by donating here.