GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYLIST!
Here is what I pull out every spring after the first couple weeks of spring training have gone by and the weather starts to warm up:
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - Hary Caray
- Rock & Roll, Pt. 2 - Gary Glitter
- Centerfield - John Fogerty
- Who's on First? - Abbot & Costello
- Joltin' Joe DiMaggio - Les Brown & His Orchestra
- Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
- The Greatest - Kenny Rogers
- Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam
- I Love Mickey - Teresa Brewer
- Move Over Babe (Here Comes Henry) - Bill Slayback
- Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? - Buddy Johnson
- Wild Thing - The Troggs
- Burn On - Randy Newman
- We Are The Champions - Queen
- Bobby Thompson's Shot Heard Round the World - Russ Hodges
- A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request - Steve Goodman
- Catfish - Bob Dylan
- Walk of Life - Dire Straits
- I'm Sitting On Top of the World - Bobby Darin
- Farewell Speech (1939) - Lou Gehrig
- I Love L.A. - Randy Newman
Some thoughts on the songs:
- Hary Caray started the tradition of singing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' during the 7th Inning Stretch.
- Gary Glitter is a worthless human being. Who wrote one of the best sports songs of all time.
- 'Who's On First' is how comedy should be. I think of this act every time I try to give Saturday Night Live! one more chance to prove they are still funny. It normally descends into some unfunny preverted skit that is intolerable...just look at Abbot & Costello!
- 2006 NLCS, game 7. Mets fans, father and son, crying. My joy at their expense. Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye.
- Mickey sounds like a complete tool in 'I Love Mickey.'
- 'Move Over Babe' should have been featured in an original Scooby Doo episode.
- Major League also featured 'Burn On' in addition to 'Wild Thing' (which you knew).
- Steve Goodman should have stopped with his first Cubs song and never written 'Go Cubs Go.'
- 'Walk of Life' has no baseball reference but makes me think of the game. Personal favorite.
- 'I'm Sitting On Top of the World' was featured in the 2006 (or maybe 2007) all star game commercials. Pujols was sitting on the steel frame of an unfinished skyscraper.
Songs that didn't make the cut (mainly because they are terrible):
- Love is Like a Baseball Game - The Intruders
- Talking Baseball (Cardinals) - Terry Cashman
- Baseball Boogie - 1986 Dodgers (I can't even watch the whole thing its so bad.)
- Meet the Mets (1964)
- Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond (WHAT? Why is this on baseball lists?)
- Go Cubs Go - Steve Goodman
- Baseball, Baseball, Fun in the Sun - Dora the Explorer
I'd love to hear more suggestions (other than the excluded ones). This list has been carefully compiled over the last three or four years using as many resources as I could find including iTunes Essential's Baseball playlist. I hope you enjoy it!
3 recs |
35 comments
Comments
In honour of the best entrance music in the game...
how’s about ACDC’s “Hell’s Bells”?
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
by Felonius_Monk on Mar 11, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Centerfield
That should be the Colby Rasmus theme song this year.
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Mar 11, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't get why
But it is a good song
vivaelbeƱsheets
by vivaelpujols on Mar 12, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chorus seemed to fit
Oh, put me in, coach – Im ready to play today;
Put me in, coach – Im ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
"Do what you want to the women and children but leave me alone"- George Carlin
by That's a Winner on Mar 12, 2009 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
couple extras
“right field,” peter paul and mary – pretty lame group overall, imho, but it’s a funny song.
“talkin’ baseball,” terry cashman, or its cardinals-specific equivalent.
*"catfish," bob dylan.
no cubs song belongs on that list.
having been a kid in the ‘80s, when my cards fandom was forever forged, i can’t help but think of “dancin’ in the streets.” seems like that was in a lot of promos or something. or maybe my brain is just making that up 20 years later.
i once heard a guy sing the entirety of “here comes the king” (more popularly known as “the clydesdales song”) in a bar. i think that was the first time i even knew there were lyrics. i sent an email to a-b, asking if they had an mp3 or something they could send me. they didn’t – the song is still under copyright, and they just license it, i guess – but they did send me a really nice glossy card stock with the lyrics and a picture of the clydesdales. i’ve still got it.
7 OFs, 3 OF spots. Hmm...
by nycbirdo on Mar 11, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i love right field
And i do hate pater, paul, and mary.
by Evilfrog on Mar 13, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More Songs...
As much as I hate to say it, if you’re doing a unbiased list of songs associated with baseball in general…Go Cubs Go probably should be on there. If its Cardinals songs or personal, that’s another story. But hey…its your list.
As for Sweet Caroline, I’d put other Red Sox songs on there before that one (although I do like that song) “Tessie” or “Dirty Water” are much better IMO.
Another vote for “Here Comes the King” here.
Others that could be added:
“New York New York” (Yankees Celebration)
“Roll Out the Barrels” (Brewers 7th inning)
I’m sure every team more or less has something that is “their song” and it would be cool to see a list of that. Those are the only ones I know of off the top of my head though….
by pcgd on Mar 11, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
don't know how many outside nyc know this
… or care. but “new york, new york” isn’t the yankees’ celebration, or at least not precisely. the song is played after every home game, win or lose. but when the yankees win, they play the sinatra version; when they lose, it’s the liza minelli version. it fits, i think.
7 OFs, 3 OF spots. Hmm...
by nycbirdo on Mar 11, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some more...
Just found these 7th inning songs from other teams:
Orioles: “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – John Denver
Rays: “Fins” Jimmy Buffett for a little while…stopped in the 2000s though
Mets: Have played the “mexican Hat dance” but now play “"Lazy Mary” by Lou Monte
Blue Jays: “OK Blue Jays”
Astros: “Deep in the Heart of Texas”
Rangers: “Cotton Eyed Joe”
Angels: “Back in the Saddle Again” Gene Autry
Mariners: “Louie Louie” The Kingsmen
Rockies: “Hey! Baby” Cover
Nationals: “Shout!”
Mets and Nationals also do “Sweet Caroline”
by pcgd on Mar 11, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
A Concept Album
There is an album called (I think) The Baseball Ballads" by Chuck Brodsky. It is a 10 song album, with the seventh song an instrumental of take me out to the ballgame. The songs all deal with some of the more colorful characters and stories from the game. Its a bit folky, but the song “Lefty” loosely based on Steve Carlton, and “Letters in the Dirt” about cheering for Dick Allen are absolutely heartbreaking. Well worth checking out. (I found it on Amazon)
by kyle3776 on Mar 11, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I concur
A great great album. I can’t recommend it enough for baseball lovers. It’s a modern folky style, so if you don’t like acoustic guitar driven music, it may not be your bag.
I’ve learned tons about baseball just by looking into some of the old stories. A whole song about Bonehead Merkle famous misplay, a great one about the sad story of Eddie Klepp, the first white player in the negro leagues, Eddie Waitkis, Doc Ellis’ no-hitter he pitched while high, and some others.
by blehmann on Mar 13, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about Mrs. Robinson?
i will always remember paul simon playing that at Yankee Stadium when Joe Dimaggio died. tangentially baseball related, but a great song, and one of the only ones that successfully related baseball to the national zeitgeist.
by tom s. on Mar 11, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
good call
"A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Joe Theismann
by TurdFerguson on Mar 11, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're doing a Paul Simon song
this one is much more directly about baseball
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
by Valatan on Mar 12, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Heat is On
while it may not fit in this category, The Heat is On will always bring back memories of baseball. How I loved 1985.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
and....BEN SHEETS!!! **
**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)
by mattyfrommo on Mar 11, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How In God's Name
Is The Nolan Ryan Express not included in that list?!
http://rangers.fandome.com/video/20016/The-Oak-Ridge-Boys-perform-The-Nolan-Ryan-Express/
by mynameistyler on Mar 12, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm taking notes
and I’ll update my playllist after listening to these.
jp
by jpmorgan5150 on Mar 13, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Glory Days
I’m a Springsteen fan, but the speedball reference in that song wrecks it for me. Woof.
"A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Joe Theismann
by TurdFerguson on Mar 13, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what about the 2006 world series??
I will never forget “Dreamweaver.”
by Shi on Mar 13, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
call me a sap...
but Meet Me in St. Louis is on my baseball playlist
also Jessica by The Allman Brothers because it’s in Field of Dreams.
by sluggerbird on Mar 13, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Almost forgot the "Joe Dimaggio's Done It Again" track off Mermaid Avenue
(Can’t remember if it’s volume one or two) by Wilco and Billy Bragg — lyrics by Woody Guthrie.
by tom s. on Mar 13, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Been to like 10 Braves games
Not gonna lie, I love the Atlanta/Florida State “chop” music. It’s pretty powerful.
The artist formerly known as...
Mr Redbird @ Viva El Birdos
PowerOfDixieland @ Track Em Tigers, other SEC blogs
by jd is legend on Mar 13, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Macarena
How about the Tony LaRussa version of the Macarena circa 1996? Hahaaha.
by DJ87 on Mar 13, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i believe that went a li'l something like...
cardinals are in first and they’re gonna win the pennant
tony is the guy who is gonna help them win it
squeezin’ out wins like an automatic juice-a
tooooooooooony larussa
Look, I don't ask for much. All I want from the 2009 season is for Carp and Adam to combine for 420 IP and go 1-2 in the Cy Young voting, and for Albert to win the MVP again. Oh, and for the Cubs to never win another World Series as long as I live. I really don't think that is too much to ask.
by nycbirdo on Mar 13, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harry Carey did not start the tradition of signing Take Me Out To the Ballgame
during the 7th inning stretch.
Atleast, that’s what Ken Burns told me.
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 14, 2009 1:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, I live in Chicago
and I know of actual people who think the cubbies invented singing that song during the stretch. but, as we all know everything revolves around the cubbies so it must be true, right?
Getting two tickets to an execution is like getting two tickets to NASCAR, except you KNOW Jeff Gordon's gonna die.
by Tackle Box on Mar 14, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who did?
I think I got that off wikipedia, the great fount of all knowledge. Does anybody know who did?
jp
by jpmorgan5150 on Mar 14, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was first sung at a White Sox game
during the 7th inning stretch during the World Series. I believe it was 1917?
by Hardcore Legend on Mar 14, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
a few more
WIth Ankiel, I always think of Folk Implosion’s Natural One. I love that song.
There’s also the Boxmaster’s (Billy Bob Thornton) “I’m Watchin’ the Game”. While it’s not the greatest song, it is a Cardinal song.
http://www.kmox.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=1811060
Trace Adkin’s Swing
by outraged on Mar 14, 2009 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dock Ellis
Todd Snider’s “America’s Favorite Pastime” is a touching ode to Dock Ellis’ 1970 no-hitter while on LSD.
Jonathan Richman also pays a surprisingly earnest tribute in “Walter Johnson.”
by bgodar on Mar 14, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm with you on Walk of Life
That keyboard riff makes me picture guys with mustaches playing long-toss and stretching.
by bgodar on Mar 14, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by 

















