Here Lies Carl Mays

by Steve Wynn

It's so peaceful here
In the Riverview graveyard
And sometimes it felt that way
Out in the green ballfield
But life can take a turn
Right before your eyes
And you know
You'll never be the same again

Chappie was a favorite son
Called a prince by everyone
But he couldn't hit me a lick
And he'd tell you so
When he squared to bunt again
I submarined it up and in
He was leaning out over the plate
And he just froze

I wasn't trying to hurt anyone
But now it's all so said and done
And I wish that killer pitch never left my hand

It was never far from my mind
But the next year I went 27-9
Hit .343
And we won the Yanks' first flag
Still people didn't like me
Accused me of being on the take in the Series
I pitched three complete games
With an ERA of 1.73

In '28 Ray's wife died
Suspected it was suicide
And the daughter he never saw
Passed in '29
And the very ball I threw that day
Thirty years later it was put into play
Took a bad hop
And smashed some kid in the eye