Merry Christmas from Us!

Last year, we ran this on Christmas Eve as a gift to all of our readers. Unfortunately, people aren’t doing much reading of sports blogs on Christmas Eve, and last year we got something like 12 page views on it. So, we’re running it again, a little ahead of schedule. I changed a couple of names from the previous version, due to trades. We want you all to read it before you bug out of the office for your holiday break (or before you start drinking, if that’s the kind of holiday you have). Without further ado, here is the Rockin’ Redlegs version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Have a great holiday, everyone. We love you all!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the yard

Not a creature was stirring, as the snow fell hard;

The bats were locked up in the clubhouse with care,

In hopes that baseball season soon would be there;

The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of championships danced in their heads;

And mamma in her jersey, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out in left field there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

From my downtown apartment through the new-fallen snow

I could see everything out on the field below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should I meet,

But a miniature sleigh, and nine tiny athletes,

With a little old driver, so lively and trusty,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Dusty.

More rapid than Chapman’s 105 fastball,

He whistled, and shouted, and called on them all;

“Now, Votto! now, Phillips! now, Cueto and Bailey!

On, Heisey! on Bruce! on Cozart and Fraiser!

To the warning track! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

The grass that the grounds crew work so hard to mow

Did not even budge when the sleigh moved the snow

So up to the Power Stacks the little sportsmen flew,

And landed on the 14 bats for Mr. 4192

And then, from my window, I spied a great mission

Each man from the sleigh took their field position

Just as I stood and wondered what they were doing

I heard from the ballpark a familiar booing

It took but a second – I already knew

As I saw in the dugout some guys from the Lou

With tears in my eyes, I cried, “Could it be?!”

“A Christmas Eve baseball game played just for me?”

I didn’t believe it until I heard that one call

A young child’s voice shouting, “Play Ball!”

On the field below me, I watched the game

As my cherished baseball players earned a new name

No longer the “Boys of Summer” the athletes were

The “Boys of Winter” is their new moniker

In a shutout performance, Cueto pitched great

With homers galore, the Cards lost by eight

And then, just as quickly as the team came in

They packed up their sleigh to leave again

I couldn’t believe that Opening Day

Would be the next time I’d watch them play

What a magical evening, nine excellent innings

I thought of the team’s humble beginnings

Being a Reds fan is a glorious thing

What’s even better is a World Series ring

I heard St. Dusty exclaim as I settled into bed,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a GO REDS!”

Merry Christmas from Rockin’ Redlegs!