I went out and bought some double chocolate mini cakes and a can of frosting. Why so much effort? It is Bob Dylan's Birthday. Happy Birthday Bob!
Personalizing these cakes was not easy for me--I had to wear gloves and I don't have opposable thumbs like all you primates out there. A friend of mine, Lysander ( a lemur who lives down the street ) was supposed to help me with this project last night, but he flaked out on me, and went to a Yankee's game instead. I can't blame him. I'd be there too if somebody gave me a ticket and a ride to the stadium.
This is one of my favorite Yankees. Jim 'Catfish' Hunter. He was pretty cool. In 1974 he won the Cy Young Award. The Yankees won three straight pennants with Hunter from 1976 to 1979. At age 33, In poor health, he retired to North Carolina, where he had a farm. "If I hadn't played baseball, I wanted to be a game warden or something. I want to be outdoors." --Hunter
He died in 1999 at the age of 53. (He had ALS / Lou Gehrig's Disease)
He was absolutely thrilled to be the subject of a Bob Dylan song. Catfish wrote an essay about the moment he found out Bob had written a song for him.
Lazy stadium night
Catfish on the mound.
"Strike three," the umpire said,
Batter have to go back and sit down.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
Used to work on Mr. Finley's farm
But the old man wouldn't pay
So he packed his glove and took his arm
An' one day he just ran away.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
Come up where the Yankees are,
Dress up in a pinstripe suit,
Smoke a custom-made cigar,
Wear an alligator boot.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
Carolina born and bred,
Love to hunt the little quail.
Got a hundred-acre spread,
Got some huntin' dogs for sale.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
Reggie Jackson at the plate
Seein' nothin' but the curve,
Swing too early or too late
Got to eat what Catfish serve.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
Even Billy Martin grins
When the Fish is in the game.
Every season twenty wins
Gonna make the Hall of Fame.
Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.
1975
Bob Dylan (& Jacques Levy)
"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time"
--Catfish Hunter
