ODE TO A CLOSER

Dan Quisenberry, 45, Died Yesterday.
New York Times October 1, 1998

The Kansas City Royals bullpen ace
appeared in two World Series in the 80’s,
not overpowering, but he possessed
the best control in the Major Leagues
and showcased a submarine delivery,
his money pitches sinkers that coaxed
a host of ground ball outs.

Players, fans and writers admired
this right hander with the red mustache,
a modest man who credited team mates
when he snuffed out rallies and shunned
excuses if he failed to save a game.

A quipster and wordsmith
with a wry sense of humor,
he served up memorable quotes—
“I found a delivery in my flaw,”
“I want to thank the pitchers
who couldn’t go nine innings,”
and describing his Peggy Lee fastball said,
“Is that all there is?”

At the close of his pitching career,
he furthered an interest in poetry,
enrolled in writers’ workshops
where he shared his verse,
surprising many followers
who had never guessed
he nurtured a creative bent.

In 1998, shortly after learning that
he had a cancer of the brain,
his book, On Days Like This,
was published, free style verse,
direct and economical, as in
the tribute to his former manager—
Dick said he was tired
go on without him
baseball’s just a game
try to win…

In the late innings of his malignancy,
after trials of surgery and chemotherapy,
he was asked if he wondered, “Why me?”
Dan Quisenberry said, “Why not me,”
as though he had just retired the side
and was walking off the mound
with the game ball in hand
and a poem in his back pocket.