BASEBALL: De Wolf HOPPER recites "Casey at the Bat" (1909)

DeWolf Hopper (1858-1935) / Humorous Recitation / Casey at the Bat (Thayer) / Recorded: 16 June 1909 / Camden, NJ / Speed: 76 rpm / SEE FULL POEM BELOW...

CASEY AT THE BAT by Ernest Lawrence THAYER /
from the San Francisco Examiner - 03 June 1888

The Outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that -
We'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped-
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And its likely they'd a-killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.

== 30 ==

Category:

Sports

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• Baseball
• Casey
• at
• the
• Bat
• Humorous
• Recitation
• Poem
• De
• Wolf
• Hopper
• 78
• rpm
• Phonograph
• Silhouette
• CurzonRoad

[dabsy1]

Does anyone know if DeW H made a recording back in 1888?

[CurzonRoad]

Although the technology was very much in place in 1888, can't say I know that DeWolf Hopper actually recorded this that far back.

[COOKIESHEPARD]

The first recorded version of "Casey at the Bat" was narrated by Russell Hunting in 1893; and again on wax cylinder in 1898. DeWolf Hopper's more famous recorded recitation was released in October 1906. Walt Disneys animated cartoon adaptation narrated by Jerry Colonna was released in the late 1940s.

[CurzonRoad]

Thanks very much for this information...

... Jerry Colonna ?!

Tidings from snowbound DC!

Doug --

[deepseadirt]

yes Hopper originally performed this in 1888. This recording is 21 years later in 1909. Thus the recording is 100 years old. His voice is phenomenal for an acoustical recording

[CurzonRoad]

My understanding is De Wolf Hopper (who was married to Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper) recorded this to disc on four (4) different occasions across three decades. Thank you for this new information!

[65domer]

Very creative intro to Casey at the Bat by Hopper. I have a 1950s vinyl recording of Hopper reciting classic baseball poem.(RCA LCT 112) It may be a recording of the 1909 reading?

[Voodooday2]

this is very cool thanks for posting!

[dewolfm]

Interesting guy, DeWolf Hopper. Related to the Rhode Island DeWolfs, I think. Could be the offspring of a DeWolf female who ran off to marry a traveling "drummer" (I think that's a salesman).

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. This is wonderful! Maya

[victrolaman]

@CurzonRoad you are correct. This is done with a much speeded up delivery compared to the 1906 Version. I have both versions, and the comparison is notable. Still a great record though.

[bitgreeny]

Great! His is the best read. Great quality on this record too.