Published: Baseball Almanac (2000)

His record 136 career home
runs eclipsed by the Babe,
Waterburian Roger Connor
visits Civil War Hero
Ed Neville's grave.
Sizing up the dates
like an old rival's stats
he wonders if Medal
of Honor glory ever fades.
He thinks about the brass
ball and bat weather vane,
a mammoth four bagger
award that's turning
green on South Main.
And the slow running gold
watch marking a colossal
Polo Grounds blast.
These trophies are linked
to Waterbury's brass
and timepiece fame
and he smiles at that
while his eyes measure
the distance to the family
plot just a sharp line
drive over third.
The July grass looks double
play quick and it dawns
on him that's all
a dead infielder needs.
Monuments are for soldiers,
handy for holidays.
He wipes his glasses with
a handkerchief and squints
across Silver Street at
Scovill Manufacturing.
Even 63 and ailing, he knows
that pitched 1921 horsehide
he would nail any window pane
on the saw-toothed roof.
Then, saluting Captain Neville,
Roger Connor takes long strides
to the St. Joseph's Cemetery gate.

Roger Connor by Thomas Michael McDade ©