The Green Fields of the Mind

BoSoxLady

Rules Red Sox Nation with an Iron Fist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2003
3,448
From A Great and Glorious Game: Baseball Writings of A. Bartlett Giamatti

"The Green Fields of the Mind "

It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.” [emoji26]

Full version here: http://mason.gmu.edu/~rmatz/giamatti.html

I hate this poem but tradition lives.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
38,187
Thank you!

(EDIT)
Every time it's posted here I copy the text and email it to my brother, dad and my brother-in-law.

I just checked my GMAIL account and I've been doing it since 2008. Kinda interesting to see that.
 

notmannysfault

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
500
it's funny because I feel like the World Series wins really do keep you warm every winter.

But every other year...this.

Thanks Sheri.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,567
It is designed to break you heart, why should this be so.

This year hurts so much more than last year. Don't know why, maybe I feel for Sale, Devers and the other newcomers that deserved better.

Cleveland and Houston are a little better that us, I can't argue that objectively, but not so much that our better fans couldn't have made the difference. I really thought that we would overcome this year. At least in the AL.
 

Kielty's Last Pitch

New Member
Oct 6, 2017
118
I think the reason it hurt more this year is because the expectations were so high. After the Sox traded for Sale, pretty much everyone expected either the Sox or the Indians would make it to the World Series.

Even though this year's 93-69 record was identical to last year, it wasn't nearly as disappointing an ending last year going from last place in 2015 to a division title.
 

dwhogan

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 30, 2011
323
The 'bury
Bart reading it, if it's of interest to anyone:

I always hate the last out, but it has become a ritual for me to make sure that I hear Joe read the first few lines at the end of each season.

It breaks my heart.
 

8slim

has trust issues
SoSH Member
Nov 6, 2001
24,838
Unreal America
I love this poem, although I hate the reason it appears.

For me, last year stung much more, largely due to Papi’s retirement and the fact that I thought we’d roll the depleted Indians.

I enjoyed this season a lot, but aside from allowing myself to totally buy in during our best two stretches, I knew the team had flaws and substantial competition that would make post-season success a long shot.

Still “I need to think something lasts forever...” gets me every time.
 

loshjott

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2004
14,946
Silver Spring, MD
I think the reason it hurt more this year is because the expectations were so high. After the Sox traded for Sale, pretty much everyone expected either the Sox or the Indians would make it to the World Series.

Even though this year's 93-69 record was identical to last year, it wasn't nearly as disappointing an ending last year going from last place in 2015 to a division title.
It hurts more also because the Yankees are still playing.