Howie Newman
MUSIC, COMEDY and MORE
from Howie's album, When You're Happy
Mike Hessman stats Lyrics Howie's baseball music Purchase the song Purchase the album Media coverage
The Ballad of Mike Hessman
Words and music by Howie Newman
If you mention Mike Hessman, that name might not ring a bell
But he’s a legend in his own right with a grand story to tell
He hit more home runs than any minor leaguer ever did
It took dedication, heart and soul, and a ton of grit
He just kept playing ’cause he loved it, living out his dream
Playing baseball for a living ever since he was eighteen
The years flew by just like the wind, he never lost that thirst
Becoming minor league home run king was a blessing and curse
It started out in Macon, young Mike just had no fear
1997, he hit 21 that year. Danville, Greenville and Myrtle Beach along the way
The homers kept a-coming on the road to Triple-A
The year that Mike tuned thirty, he was still in Triple-A
Then thirty-one and thirty-two, the time just slipped away
He played in Mexico and Japan, Venezuela, too
Sixteen teams in twenty years ’til fin’lly he was through
Did Mike ever make the majors? The answer is yes
He had cups of coffee with the Braves, the Tigers and the Mets
Fourteen big-league homers, five seasons in the show
With a little luck, he might’ve stuck. I guess we’ll never know
(c) 2016, 2024 Howie Newman Chin Music (BMI)
MIKE HESSMAN SONG