Locked in immortality by a
poem born of a desperate manager
Two pitchers who ruled Boston even
when the teams were near cellar dwellers
Spahn with his leg higher than the left field wall
Sain knocking back anyone who
dared to stand too close to the plate
They could strike out anyone, beat
any team and they could also hit the ball
Two days of rain would always be enough
Historical note: Braves manager Billy Southworth reportedly said he would pitch Spahn and Sain in the first two games of the 1948 World Series. That would be followed by an off day for travel. After that, he’d hope for a day of rain, then use Spahn and Sain again. If there were two days of rain, he’d come back with the same combination. This gave birth to a poem (see below) by Gerald V. Hern, which appeared in the now defunct Boston Post in 1948. The poem was later corrupted into “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.”
Spahn & Sain
by Gerald V. Hern
First we’ll use Spahn
then we’ll use Sain
Then an off day
followed by rain
Back will come Spahn
followed by Sain
And followed we hope
by two days of rain.