On June 3, Major League Baseball will celebrate the 119th anniversary of "Casey at Bat." After nearly 120 years, Casey still rocks.

When Ernest L. Thayer wrote the baseball ballad in May of 1888, which later published in the San Francisco Examiner on June 3 of that same year, it didn't become a literary classic right away.

The help of local playhouses, a Hollywood movie in 1927 and even a Walt Disney cartoon helped make the poem a Hall of Fame entry.

So just who was the mighty Casey? And what about the Mudville Nine?

Thayer never disclosed what team or city served as the model for the Mudville Nine. But two cities lay claim to be the basis of Thayer's poem -- Stockton, Calif., and Holliston, Mass. The debate goes on and will likely never be answered.

As for whether or not Casey was based on a single player or a combination of players during the 80s, Thayer mentioned a Bostonian slugger named Mike 'King" Kelly as a model for the ballad. According to Howard W. Rosenberg, who in his 2004 book, Cap Anson 2: The Theatrical and Kingly Mike Kelly: U.S. Team Sport's First Media Sensation and Baseball's Original Casey at the Bat, reprints a 1905 Thayer letter to a Baltimore scribe who was inquiring about the poem's roots. Thayer singled out Kelly in the letter.

As for a modern day Casey. The options are limited. There are players that have his swagger, have his charisma and have . Just four active players share the same first name and just one with a last name -- Detroit Tigers first baseman Sean Casey.

But Thayer didn't use a Casey for his ballplayer, "King" Kelly was his model. There is only one player that can be today's Casey. I've narrowed it down with the help of three passages from Thayer's poem:

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey’s eye, a sneer curled Casey’s lip.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, San Franciso's Barry Bonds and St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols each have the ability to brings thousands to there feet before each at bat. There was a time when Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and even Ken Griffey walking from the batter's circle to home plate would cause a wave of anticipation. But there can only be one Casey.

There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile on Casey’s face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt ’twas Casey at the bat.

There are hundreds of active players that have Casey's charisma, including Sean Casey but still we need to narrow our list to one.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.

And with those five words, "mighty Casey has struck out" we now know the answer -- Alex Rodriguez.

 

Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, will serve as Jake Delhomme's backup.

"It's a case where we were obviously looking for someone to come in back up Jake and the opportunity to get a quarterback the caliber of David in free agency is unique," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "We thought it was a good situation and a good opportunity for us."

Carr was a five-year starter for the expansion Texans. He completed 60 percent of his passes, but threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times. Carr completed a career-high 68.3 percent of his passes last season, but was released by the Texans after they obtained Matt Schaub in a trade from Atlanta and anointed him as their starting quarterback.

The Panthers believe Carr's troubles stemmed from Houston's poor offensive line, and tried to sign him during his visit with the team early in the week. Carr left without a contract and visited Seattle, while Carolina brought in former Miami quarterback Joey Harrington for a visit.

But on Thursday Carr decided he wanted to sign with Carolina, and the two sides reached a deal over the phone early Friday morning, ending a nervous period for Hurney.

"He met everybody and met Jake and I think he felt comfortable," Hurney said. "You never know what happens when he leaves without a contract. But we felt good about him I think he felt good about us and he made the decision to come here."

The Panthers were looking for an experienced quarterback to back up Delhomme after releasing Chris Weinke last month. Weinke struggled in a relief role in three games last season when Delhomme had a sprained thumb, throwing two touchdown passes and four interceptions. The Panthers went 1-2 in those three games and the lone game they won came with Weinke throwing only seven passes.

The 6-foot-3 Carr may have had other opportunities to start with other teams, but Hurney insisted Carr will back up Delhomme, who struggled last season as the Panthers finished disappointing 8-8.

"We made it clear and he knows that Jake Delhomme is our starting quarterback," Hurney said. "I think it was important for him to come to a winning organization and a place where he thinks has a chance to win. He knows that Jake is our starter. Every player wants to play, but he knows the role he's coming into."

The move means the Panthers now have the top two picks from the 2002 draft. Carolina selected defensive end Julius Peppers with No. 2 pick.

Carr's signing is the biggest move the Panthers have made so far in free agency. Hurney has said they were content with 21 of 22 starters returning next season.

So it was Opening Day at the Priest household and thankfully, the Cincinnati Reds played in the early game and the Minnesota Twins played the late game. Or there might have been a fight over the remote control.

I'm a Reds from birth -- probably even conception (not to be confused with Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion).

My wife is a die-hard Twins fan. She even sings the Twins song during games: "We're gonna win Twins,  we're gonna score ..." Only in Minne-SO-ta do they have a rally song.

So in order to keep peace, I've switched my American League allegiance to the Twins. Even bought a Twins hat when we went to a game at the Metrodome a few days after our wedding. She'd likely file divorce papers if she knew what AL Central team I use to root for.

And I think she's become a Reds fan. She'd better because our son is going to be a Reds fan, regardless.

Anyway, the potential squabble left me wondering how many marriages have a conflict over favorite baseball teams? We, at least, have come to a compromise with favorite NL and AL teams. But are there any marriages that have diehard Giant-Dodger allegiances?