To the Detroit Baseball Club
The poem is a satirical commentary on the commercialization of baseball. It describes the transformation of the game from a joyful pastime to a lucrative business venture, where players are treated like commodities and fans are exploited for their money. The speaker laments the loss of the game's innocence and the prioritization of profit over sportmanship.
By Eugene Field · First published 1886 · Genre: Poetry, Sports Literature, Humor · 146 words
First lines
You've scooped the vealy city crowd Of glory and of purse -- Why shouldn't Pegasus be proud To trot you out in a verse? Chicago hoped to wallop you By a tremendous score, But bit off more than it could chew, As witness: "5 to 4."
Well done, you 'Ganders! here's a hand To every one of you; These record-breakers of the land Now break themselves in two.
Well get their pennant -- it shall float Upon our distant shore, So let each patriotic throat Hurrah for "5 to 4. "
What this Textopian page supports
To the Detroit Baseball Club is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1886 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Sports Literature, Humor, Patriotic Literature, Historical Literature
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To the Detroit Baseball Club by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Sports Literature — The poem celebrates a baseball team and its achievements, focusing on themes of competition and sportsmanship.
- Humor — The playful tone and light-hearted references contribute to a humorous portrayal of the baseball rivalry.
- Patriotic Literature — The poem expresses pride and support for the team, invoking a sense of regional pride and camaraderie.
Tags
Sports · Baseball · Detroit · History · Non-fiction · American · Literary · Humor · Satire · Poetry · Epistolary · Letter