American Old Time Song Lyrics: 28 Play Ball

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 28

PLAY BALL.
Copyright, 1890, by Spaulding & Kornder.
Words and Music by Wm. B. Glenroy.

I've a friend named Dan McCloskey, and he's crazy on baseball,
I told him I could play third base, but, sure, I can't at all,
McCloskey said his "nine "would play that coming Saturday,
And when I heard my name called out, I bought a suit to play;
We went out to the base-ball grounds and all dressed up in lights,
And when we came out on the field, we looked such holy sights;
McCloskey, be went first to bat and knocked a little fly.
But the bum short-stop he let it drop, and the mob began to cry:
Play ball! play ball! You'd give a man a fit,
You muffers, you bluffers, you cannot play a bit;
To make us pay a quarter each you have an awful gall;
All through the game they would exclaim: Play ball! Play ball!

When our side got the fielding, McCloskey made a muff.
And some one on the benches yelled: McCloskey, you're a "stuff' " ;
At that poor Mac got awful mad and grabbed a bat to fire,
It missed the man upon the stand and struck the poor umpire;
The captain of the "Neversweats" began to scowl and frown;
Before the man had time to think, McCloskey had him down;
Oh, I myself was scared to death, and from the field I fled,
And when the fight was at its height, the umpire to us said:
Play bull! play ball! You'd give a man a fit.
You mutters, you bluffers, you cannot play a bit;
To make us pay a quarter each you have an awful gall;
All through the game they would exclaim: Play ball! Play ball!

And when the game was over 'twas an interesting score,
McCloskey's nine were beaten by just eighty-six to four;
Poor Mac's saloon was crowded with a broken-hearted mob.
And if you'd ask them, they would say the umpire was a slob;
At twelve o'clock I started home as drunk as I could be;
I kicked the door and rang the bell like an Indian on a spree;
My wife raised up the window-sash and then put out her head,
She gave a roar, who's at the door? and this is all I said:
Play ball! play ball! Come down and let me in;
My daisy, I'm crazy because we didn't win;
And when I gained an entrance, sure there came an awful squall;
And now I'll shoot the man that says: Play ball! Play ball!