In the big inning, God created baseball

     Congratulations to Coach Tim Corbin and the Vanderbilt University baseball team for winning the 2014 College World Series out in Omaha. 
     I was fortunate enough to cover that event three times during my sportswriting career: 1975 with South Carolina and 1995 and 1996 with Clemson (where Corbin was an assistant coach). On one of those trips, the Omaha World Herald produced a special edition that included the following piece by George Sisler—not the Hall of Fame first baseman but a war correspondent for the Memphis Commercial Appeal who became an preacher in the 1960s. 
     It's a game story cut and pasted from the King James Version of the Bible. It's quaint in its cliches, apocalyptic in its description of a double play, and prophetic in the reference to pitching around Aaron. (Hank Aaron, who recently turned 80, would have been a 16-year-old kid in Mobile when this was written in 1950.) This is old-school, old-testament baseball—there is no mention of a savior at the end. Of course, it was 1-1 in the ninth, so it wasn't a "save situation," either. 
     If you read closely, you'll find some irregularities. Israel got four outs in the first inning, including a two-out sacrifice. That can happen when you take scripture out of context. Philistines can go ask St. Peter for a review. On the other hand, this would not have been the first time Israel got an extra out—see Joshua 10:13! 
     I could not find this anywhere else on the Web, so I posted it here just for you: 

      The people gathered ^{Ex 32:1} to see the battle, ^{1 Sam 17:28} and the people sat down to eat and drink ^{Ex 32:6} sweet water ^{James 3:11}  and parched corn. ^{Josh 5:11}

     Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside, ^{1 Sam 4:13}  and he stretched himself ^{1 Ki 17:21} that he may see good. ^{Ps 34:12}

       So the people shouted: ^{Josh 6:20} Where are the nine? ^{Luke 17:17} Let the young men now arise and play before us. ^{2 Sam 2:14}.

     The first came out ^{Gen 25:25} and went into the field ^{Num 22:23} and they stood every man in his place. ^{Judg 7:21}

     And Peter called ^{Mark 14:72} whether it be good or bad, ^{Lev 27:12} as one mocketh another ^{Job 13:9} with loud voices: ^{Luke 23:23} His watchmen are blind. ^{Isa 56:10} And he stooped to ^{1 Sam 24:8} make clean the platter. ^{Luke 11:39}

     And the trumpeters sounded: ^{2 Chr 29:28} Kohath shall pitch. ^{Num 3:29} And Samson went and caught. ^{Judg 15:4}

     David was up ^{2 Sam 24:11} on the left side ^{Ez 1:10} and he struck it into the pan ^{1 Sam 2:14} foul.  ^{Matt 16:3} The second was offered. ^{Judg 6:28} He striketh.^{. Job 34:26} On the third ^{Gen 22:4} he struck ^{1 Sam 2:14} him out. ^{Gen 22:11}

     So the Levite went in. ^{Judg 17:10} He stood, and measured the earth; he beheld and drove ^{Hab 3:6} for an homer. ^{Hos 3:2} And all the people shouted with a great shout. ^{Josh 6:20}

     And Noah went in ^{Gen 7:7} and did fly ^{2 Sam 22:11} into the field. ^{Num 22:23} And Jothan ran away ^{Judg 9:21} and looking back ^{Luke 9:62} gathered it. ^{Isa 62:9}.

     And Aaron went in ^{Ex 5:1} and worketh it ^{Isa 44:12} two and two. ^{Gen 7:9} And Samson said: ^{Judg 15:3} Strike it! ^{Ex 12:7} And Aaron spake: ^{Ex 4:30} Be not one of them that strike. ^{Prov 22:26} And the man refused to smite. ^{1 Ki 20:35} And Aaron took ^{NUM 16:47} and he walked. ^{1 KI 15:3}

     Amon sacrificed ^{2 CHR 33:22} and Aaron ran ^{Num 16:47} into the second ^{Heb 9:7} and overran, ^{2 Sam 18:23} and with the bag ^{Mic 6:11} afar off, ^{Gen 22:4} a good man out. ^{Matt 12:35.}

     Now Jeremiah came in and went out ^{Jer 37:4} being caused to fly. ^{Dan 9:21} And the men of Israel retired. ^{Judg 20:39}

     Then the Philistines went up. ^{Judg 15:9} And Joseph was captain ^{Gen 39:1} of the Philistines. ^{Judg 3:31} And Absalom pitched. ^{2 Sam 17:26}

     Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks. ^{Gen 42:25} Shimei came forth, ^{2 Sam 16:5} stood, and walked. ^{Acts 3:8} The pitcher ^{Ecc 12:6} looked this way and that way. ^{Ex 2:12} He stretched out ^{Hos 7:5} and threw. ^{Acts 22:23} And Archers hit. ^{1 Sam 31:3} And it came to pass on the second, ^{Luke 6:1} Joab caught ^{1 Ki 2:28} the line ^{Job 38:5} and threw ^{2 Sam 16:13} at the first. ^{Gen 13:4} Therefore, David ran and stood upon ^{1 Sam 17:51} the first, ^{Gen 13:4} put forth his hand and caught ^{Ex 4:4} the toss. ^{Jer 5:22}  This is the second death. ^{Rev 20:14}

     Then Joseph could not restrain himself, and he cried: ^{Gen 45:1} Goodness, if thou continue in ^{Rom 11:22} going down, ^{Gen 15:12}, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost ^{Ez 37:11} and my garments ^{Isa 63:3} and job. ^{Ex 14:20.}

     And Abram went up. ^{Gen 13:1} And Abram drove ^{Gen 15:11} into the air. ^{Acts 22:23} Judah came in ^{Gen 38:8} under it. ^{Dan 4:14} And through the idleness of hands ^{Ecc 10:18} the fly ^{Is 7:18} droppeth through, ^{Ecc 10:18} giving him a double. ^{Deut 21:17}

     Abraham took the wood and ^{Gen 22:6} caught hold of ^{2 Sam 18:9} an hard ^{Matt 25:24} and high ^{Rev 21:12}  delivery ^{Is 26:17} and smote it ^{Judg 7:13}  that thou mayest go home. ^{Judg 19:9}

     Thus and thus ^{Judg 18:4} Israel fought ^{Josh 10:42} and the Philistines fought ^{1 Sam 4:10} until the ninth. ^{Lev 25:22} For each, one ^{Num 7:3} in the first, ^{Gen 8:13} and seven times ^{Lev 25:8} after that they ^{Ecc 9:3} gathereth eggs. ^{Is 10:14}

     In the ninth ^{Lev 23:32} Israel went out ^{1 Ki 20:21} in a row, ^{1 Ki 7:3} and none came in. ^{Josh 6:1} He sent divers sorts of flies among them, ^{Ps 78:45} and they caught every one. ^{2 Sam 2:16}

     The first man ^{1 Cor 15:45} for the Philistines ^{1 Sam 28:15} drew the third, ^{Rev 12:4} and the fourth ^{Ex 28:20} came unto the outside. ^{Judg 7:19} He walketh. ^{Job 22:14} The pitcher ^{Ecc 12:6} climbed up ^{1 Sam 14:13} and pitched. ^{Gen 12:8} And Moses put it upon a pole ^{Num 21:9} for an homer. ^{Hos 3:2}

     And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel. ^{2 Sam 2:17}

     And behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, ^{Ez 9:11} and wrote it in a book. ^{1 Sam 10:25}