Cody Greene.
As a Pony League manager, I had the last pick in the draft. Cody Greene, was not a very good player, and was my last pick; the last to be chosen. I assumed that he'd get frustrated, or bored, and quit. Well, he didn't. He kept trying, and practicing, and he came back for four straight years. -- Ron
Ron Salisbury
The Cannery Restaurant, Newport Beach CA
January 29, 2003
Cody Greene
Where did you go?
Did you catch any more fly balls?
Did you ever hit a home run?
You were
In many ways
What BaseballIs about.
An unsmiling face
Hid your concerns.
Why were you here
I often wondered.
One season.
Then two.
Would you come back again?
I knew you would.
Each year
We progressed.
(You didn't know
that I did too?)
One catch at
A time.
One hit at
A time.
At first
Fly balls and hitting
Must have been
Terror for you.
But you never
Quit, gave up.
And because of you,
Neither did I.
Smiles started to come.
Along with
The fly balls.
And the hits.
Others
Hit home runs.
Made
Diving catches.
But yours
Became solitary gems.
Your carefully guarded desire
Helped lead the team.
(You didn't know that, did you?)
Cody,
You
Will always be
In my Hall of Fame.
Linda Robertson, who works for Ron, contacted me about publishing Ron's poem on my web site.
We seem to honor the great athlete, regardless of their character.
Oklahoma University quarterback and U.S. Representative J.C. Watts described character as doing what is right when no one is looking.
How do YOU define a Hall of Famer?---Steve