The Farnam Echo

After The Ball Parody

By John Murphy Dec. 21st, 1895
New songs are now in great demand
They are enjoyed by young and old
So if I sing the latest song
Please do not think me bold
Tis of a noted baseball club.
Farnam they do dwell
Now listen to my ditty and the truth

to you I'll tell
Will Parker is their catcher and often

waves his hand
A signal for an in or out, while behind

the bat he stands.
He also plays the part of coach and

was never known to fail
And never touches home plate after

the ball.

2nd Verse

They have a boy for shortstop
Herb Stilley is his name
For speed and head work Herbert

has the promise of a name
He is a real good fellow, his hair

hangs down in curls and was

never known to miss a hit,

especially with the girls
Will Price plays on first base, his

work is out of sight
Sam Parker plays on second, he

plays from left to right.
Jess Fitch plays on 3rd base and

there he beats them all, catching

flies or chasing after the ball.

3rd Verse

Will Ainlay is their pitcher he plays

with bone and nerve
When the game is drawing close
He sure can throw a curve
Taylor, Smith and Harrop comprise

the outer field
At batting or base running they were

never known to yield
They are three as hardy fellows
As ever you have seen
Although they are from the country
Their work is never green
Harrop has the muscle
Taylor has the gall
To send poor Smith chasing after

the ball.

4th Verse

A gang of Hoodlums living south
They represented Earl
Answered our Captains challenge
Saying will give you a whirl

The Earl's they looked quite

dangerous
Their suits were made of red.
But ere the game was over
They wished they were dead.
Next they played Russell's
Who to beat our boys did try
But found that they could not do it,
As our boys they were so fly
Cliff Nickerson their pitcher
Is noted for his gall
But he always got to second base
After the ball.

5th verse

Next they played the Gothenburgers
Who are strictly up-to-date
They played their shastrum battery
The finest in the state.
They may play to win in Sweden
In Holland or Japan
But to play and beat our Farnam

sports
I hardly think they can.
Long years may pass boys
But I'll never forget
The day you played in Gothenburg
They played "em" hard you bet.
Farnam boys did noble work.
Made thirty runs in all
While Gothenburg made twice that

many
After the ball.

6th Verse

Success to all the Farnam boys
They are hot stuff on flies
The same to M. M. Runyon
Who deals in merchandise
Twas he that offered three to one
That Farnam boys would lose.
When he lost thirty dollars
He went on a three day booze
My song is nearly ended
I hope I've offended none
It I have come tell me
And point me out my wrong
If I have made a slight mistake
Those words I will recall
And ere reprint the day I wrote
After the ball.

Chorus

After the ball is over
Catcher, backstop and all
After our eyes are upward turned
And time the umpire calls
Many a limb is aching
If you could read them all.
Many a fielder is tired from chasing
After the ball.

1886

1936