Thanks to Maura Johnston for passing along the link to the following passages from MLB.com’s Mike Bauman, who submits that “one of the best, and frankly, most underpublicized developments of the past year in baseball was the clear and present evidence that Bob Dylan is a baseball fan.” Yes, other than all those underpublicized tours of minor league baseball stadiums.
Between his work on satellite radio and an interview in Rolling Stone, it was clear that Dylan, the poet for a generation, whether he wanted to be or not, was heavily into the national pastime. You always believed that he was highly evolved, and this was proof beyond dispute.
We look again for the hidden meanings in Dylan’s songs, but this time, for the hidden baseball meanings. For instance:
“Nothing Was Delivered.” We thought it was an angry song about unfulfilled promises, but it could just as easily be a multi-layered examination of the balk rule.
“Don’t Ya Tell Henry.” The title could make this a theme song for Barry Bonds hitting home run No. 756.”I Shall be Released.” Maybe it’s a man contemplating a spiritual rebirth or the end of a prison term. But it could also be a guy realizing that he is about to be beaten out for the 25th and last spot on the roster.
“Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.” The refrain “Everybody must get stoned” could easily be Dylan commenting on allegations of widespread amphetamine use in the game. That’s all been taken care of now, we hasten to add.