The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg Facts

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Goodbye Mr. Ball Goodbye

Written by Bill Coryn & Harold Smith
Performed by Groucho Marx, Bing Crosby & Hank Greenberg
Courtesy of The Philco Radio Show

We’ve heard about those old time dangerous pirates
of Captain Kidd and Silver John the Long
but we prefer those modern dangerous Pirates
as our victims walk the plank we sing this song

Oh, goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye

You are going to see an awful lot of sky
don’t hang around for Richard to open up that door
when Hankus Pankus hits you where you’ve never been hit before

Oh goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye

You had better kiss your relatives good bye
when Hank comes to the plate, Ball,
you’re gonna to be out late so

Goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye
Goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye

Say hello there to the sun up in the sky
a plate is mighty handy to eat the lean and fat
but not when Hank the Greenberg serves it up with his big bat

Oh, goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye

Go fly ‘til the blue has met the dawn up in the sky
when Hank gets home run itch, Ball,
you’re going to drop a stitch
so goodBye Mr ball, goodBye

Oh nothing could be finer
than a partner like Ralph Kiner
in the outfield
and I am confirmin’ that I’ll work for Billy Herman
in the infield

Oh goodbye, Mr Ball, goodbye
you had better kiss your relatives goodbye

Wait a minute, when the count is 2-0 and I let that third one go,
what happens then?
You’re out

Oh Goodbye Mr Hank goobye
And futhermore,
when I think I’ve got a hit and it winds up in Slaughter’s mitt
How about that?

Too bad
Oh goodbye Mr. Hank Goodbye
Oh, Mr .Greenberg
Goodbye Mr. Hank Goodbye

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Speaking of Greenberg

by Edgar A. Guest, 1934

            The Irish didn't like it when they heard of Greenberg's
                fame
            For they thought a good first baseman should possess
                an Irish name;
            And the Murphy's and Mulrooney's said they never
                dreamed they'd see
            A Jewish boy from Bronxville out where Casey used
                to be.
            In the early days of April not a Dugan tipped his hat
            Or prayed to see a "double" when Hank Greenberg came
                to bat.

            In July the Irish wondered where he'd ever learned
                to play.
            "He makes me think of Casey!" Old Man Murphy dared
                to say;
            And with fifty-seven doubles and a score of homers
                made
            The respect they had for Greenberg was being openly
                displayed.
            But on the Jewish New Year when Hank Greenberg
                came to bat
            And made two home runs off pitcher Rhodes-they
                cheered like mad for that.

            Came Yom Kippur-holy fast day world wide over
                to the Jew-
            And Hank Greenberg to his teaching and the old
                tradition true
            Spent the day among his people and he didn't come
                to play.
            Said Murphy to Mulrooney, "We shall lose the game
                today!"
            We shall miss him on the infield and shall miss him
                at the bat,
            But he's true to his religion-and I honor him
                for that!"

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