Poetry · Chapter
Phil DeC. Ball explained
A brief poetic tribute to Phil DeC.
What happens
A brief poetic tribute to Phil DeC. Ball, owner of the St. Louis Browns, celebrating his name and his baseball team's place in another city.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Humor and Satire
The poem plays on the owner's name and the ironic situation of his ball club being in 'another man's town.'
- Work and Profession
Highlights Phil DeC. Ball's role as a baseball club owner, tying identity to profession.
Characters to notice
- Phil DeC. Ball
Owner of the St. Louis Browns, celebrated in verse for his name and his baseball club.
Key passages
“Phil DeC. Ball Owner St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Ball is this gentleman’s name And ball is this gentleman’s game. His ball club is down In another man’s town But I’m pulling for him just the same”
Phil DeC. Ball, owner of the St. Louis Browns, has a name that matches his profession. Though his team plays in a city that isn't his own, the speaker still supports him.
The poem uses wordplay on 'Ball' as both a surname and the sport, and notes the oddity of a team owner operating in a rival city.
