Published: Baseball Almanac (2000)

Dick Donovan was in
the visitor's bullpen
one Fenway day in '59
gabbing with a dad and a kid.
Outright refused to sign my scorecard,
shook me off like I was a rookie backstop
who'd flashed the most ludicrous pitch
in the universe.
When the BoSox took batting practice,
someone smacked one
into the home pen on a bounce.
Nels Chittum was shagging.
He picked up the ball,
tossed it to me
like I was covering first base.
My voice cracked asking for his autograph
and he signed as if it were his pleasure.
Chittum went 3-0 in relief that year.
But it was the White Sox who faced the Dodgers
in the fall and lost 4 games to 2.
I rooted for LA - to spite Donovan
whose Series stats were 0-1, 5.40 ERA.

The Year I Jinxed Chicago by Thomas Michael McDade ©