I was in love with Ted Williams.
His long legs, that grace,
his narrow baseball bat
level-swung, his knowledge of art,
it has to be perfect, as near
as possible, don't swing
at a pitch seven centimeters
wide of the plate.

I root for the Boston Red Sox
Who are in ninth place
Who haven't won since 1946

It has to be perfect.

BASEBALL, A POEM IN THE MAGIC NUMBER 9

We wish we lived our lives—grace, level-swung, every day a seeking for perfection—as Williams lived his game; if only our lives could be the knowledge of the art of the game. That is worth rooting for, even if we remain in ninth place.

GEORGE BOWERING (1965)