For 60 years he shined shoes in the same spot in the shadow of Yankee Stadium As he shines he hears the game, and in his mind he hears his name as if he played for them He takes his turn at bat, there's the pitch, he swings at it, and it's gone Back through the years he's gone To take the field with Ruth and Gehrig, bring the pennant home He sees himself in pinstripes, in a lineup of his own He's stranded on a basepath, somewhere between old and New York As a customer asks for the shine, he snaps his cloth, another inning ends Dodgers come to bat, there's a drive, he makes the catch to point he's tossed again His cloth becomes a glove, as he's done with every customer he's known Back through the years he's gone To take the field with Maris and Mantle, bring the pennant home He sees himself in pinstripes, in a lineup of his own He's stranded on a basepath, somewhere between old and New York He takes his turn at bat, there's the pitch, he swings at it, there it goes Back through the years he goes Ride a ticker tape parade with Joe DiMaggio As he patiently signs an autograph with a spitshine on a toe He's stranded on a basepath, somewhere between old and New York