My father's name was John Kinsella.
It's an Irish name.
He was born in North Dakota in 1896...
...and never saw a big city...
...until he came back from France in 1918.
He settled in Chicago, where he learned
to live and die with the White Sox.
Died a little
when they lost the 1919 World Series...
...died a lot the following summer
when eight teammates...
...were accused of throwing that Series.
He played some in the minors,
but nothing came of it.
Moved to Brooklyn in '35...
...married Mom in '38...
...was already an old man
at the naval yards...
...when I was born in 1952.
My name's Ray Kinsella.
Mom died when I was 3,
and I suppose Dad did the best he could.
