Ernest Thayer’s celebrated “Casey at the Bat” in word and image

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Generations of children and baseball enthusiasts have grown up with the celebrated poem “Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888,” written by Ernest Thayer, who died 75 years ago on Aug. 21. The popular poem recounts the tale of a star baseball player who strikes out at the crucial moment of a game. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library houses several editions of Thayer’s work, from the early 20th century — including a phonograph of a recitation by comic actor DeWolf Hopper —to a 21st century limited edition artist book.