By IAN WILSON

Who’s ready for some holiday fun?

We here at Dugout Stories headquarters like to sit by the fireplace with a cup full of eggnog and listen to our favourite Christmas classics.

But, we can never stop thinking about baseball, so that’s led us to this goofy venture: a twist on popular carols. The twist is we convert them into baseball songs.

We did this last year with the 12 Days of Baseball Christmas.

This year, we’ve got a couple of other songs in mind, including a new rendition of Winter Wonderland. The original was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith. Originally recorded by Richard Himber, it has since been made popular by Guy Lombardo, Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley and countless other singers.

Making its world premiere, on this very website, are the lyrics to Baseball Wonderland, which can best be enjoyed with a hot (or cold) drink, figgy pudding, and karaoke-style singing.

Please enjoy:

Baseball bats ring, are you listenin’,
In the batter’s box, pine tar is glistenin’
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight,
Walking in a baseball wonderland.

Gone away is the red bird,

Here to stay is the bluebird,

He sings a World Series song,

As the fans throng,

Walking in a baseball wonderland.

At the ballpark we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that we are coached by Ray Brown
He’ll say: Are you buried?
We’ll say: No man,
But we can do the job
Even though we’re down.

Later on, while Astros conspire,

As we dream, we’re inspired

Our ace unafraid,

The postseason plans that we’ve made,

Walking in a baseball wonderland.

At the diamond we can build a snowman,
And pretend that we’re no longer down
We’ll have lots of fun and you’ll say “whoa, man!”,
Until the other pitcher’s knocked around.

When it rains, ain’t it thrillin’,

Though opposing bats are chillin’

We’ll bat flip and play, the Western Canadian way,

Winning in a baseball wonderland.

Winning in a baseball wonderland,
Winning in a baseball wonderland.