| 
                     I was the one 
              in the Navy 
              but my baseball cards 
              went AWOL. 
                    Thirty years later 
              I replaced them 
              settling for a '55 
                      Ted with corners rounded 
              like an ace of clubs. 
                    I plunked down $38.00 
              even though creases 
              indicated a string 
              of Yankee fans 
              abusing it 
              for stress of hex 
              when the rivalry 
              was in session. 
                    Ted was still smiling 
              and so was I. 
                    The '54 Ted that Topps 
              numbered "1" 
              that year had a 
              tiny "v" clipped out 
              of a corner 
              reminding me 
              of books and records 
              selling cheap, 
              but I paid $75.00 
              despite the evidence 
              of counting 
              spokes on bicycle wheels. 
                    Ted was still smiling 
              as if he were mint - 
              screwed down in plastic 
              thick enough 
              to dome a stadium.  |