Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Il 2 maggio del 1908, lo United States Copyright Office ricevette due copie di una nuova canzone intitolata Take Me Out to the Ball Game, presentata dal compositore Albert von Tilzer e dal paroliere Jack Norworth. Questo lavoro musicale, chiamato affettuosamente nel corso del secolo come "l'altro" inno nazionale, l'inno nazionale del baseball, è diventato il grande slam di tutte le canzoni del baseball. È stato classificato nei sondaggi come una delle dieci migliori canzoni del ventesimo secolo ed è seconda solo a "Happy Birthday" e "The Star Spangled Banner" che sono tra i brani più facilmente riconosciuti in America.

Poche creazioni musicali racchiudono un tale significato nella cultura musicale americana o emergono nel tessuto sociale dell'America come Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Il motivo per cui la canzone ha goduto di una popolarità così duratura è stato argomento per decenni di commentatori sportivi, giornalisti e storici della musica popolare. I critici hanno descritto i testi come rozzi, ma cantabili, e risulta inspiegabile l' immediato successo. I fans della canzone, tuttavia, insistono sul fatto che è la pura semplicità e la schiettezza delle parole, neutre dal punto di vista del genere e sapientemente costruite in modo da non nominare o favorire nessuna squadra, insieme ai ritmi del valzer e alla melodia indimenticabile di von Tilzer a sigillare il successo della canzone del baseball.

Solo una manciata di fans si rende conto che i due versi della canzone parlano di Katie Casey (in seguito cambiata in Nelly Kelly), una ragazza che è impazzita dalla febbre del baseball mentre chiede al suo giovane fidanzato di portarla ad una partita piuttosto che a uno spettacolo. Questo tenue profumo di romanticismo si è aggiunto al successo della canzone negli spettacoli di Vaudeville, dove cantanti (tra cui la star e moglie di Norworth, Nora Bayes), attori, persino acrobati, hanno incorporato il successo nelle loro opere. Inoltre, aggiungendosi alla sua immensa popolarità, il brano è stato presentato durante gli intermezzi delle prime sale cinematografiche dei primi del novecento, dove era accompagnato da proiezioni di diapositive di foto che hanno fornito al pubblico una componente visiva della canzone mentre il testo scorreva attraverso la parte inferiore dello schermo. In questo modo, quando Katie Casey ha fatto la proposta al suo accompagnatore, tutti gli spettatori hanno potuto rispondere con le parole della canzone: "Take me out to the ball game...".

Come nessun altro sport americano, il baseball è stato glorificato e conservato in forma musicale da cantautori e poeti ispirati sin dalle sue origini. Nel 1858, l'anno in cui le squadre di baseball amatoriali nel nordest costituirono la prima league, la National Association of Base Ball Players, un giocatore del Base Ball Club of Buffalo pubblicò il primo pezzo di musica da baseball: The Baseball Polka. Da allora sono seguite centinaia di canzoni, alcune composte dagli stessi musicisti, alcune dai loro sponsor, alcune da musicisti famosi, altre da fans sconosciuti. E, non può essere una semplice coincidenza che tutte le loro canzoni di baseball generalmente evitassero i problemi del baseball: integrazione, libero arbitrio, scioperi dei giocatori, uso di droghe, stipendi, ecc., Non compaiono mai nei testi; piuttosto, si concentrano esclusivamente sulla gloria, sugli eroi o sulle tradizioni passate del gioco. Nel 1951, il commentatore radiofonico e giornalista Walter Winchell affermò che Take Me Out to the Ballgame riassumeva quel focus, che incarnava il richiamo e l'essenza del baseball, in cui il ballpark diventa "un'isola di innocente eccitazione in un mondo di selvaggia disperazione".

Per oltre cinquant'anni, c'è stata una storia quasi ufficiale dell'inno del baseball, in gran parte derivata da un'intervista al paroliere Jack Norworth (1879-1959), che sosteneva di aver scarabocchiato le parole su una busta dopo aver visto un'insegna sulla metropolitana che diceva: "Baseball Today - Polo Grounds". Oggi, questo pezzo di carta è incluso nella collezione permanente delle memorabilia del baseball presso la National Baseball Hall of Fame. Norworth sostenne anche di non aver mai partecipato a una partita di baseball professionale prima di scrivere quelle sedici righe, come pure il cantautore ed editore Albert von Tilzer (1878-1956) che la mise in musica. In tutti i sensi, Take Me Out to the Ball Game è, dalle parole del commentatore televisivo Hall of Famer dei Chicago Cubs Harry Caray "una canzone che riflette il carisma del baseball", una canzone che rende il gioco ancora più magico e consente, al giovane o al vecchio tifoso, di alzare la voce e di farne parte.

Versione del 1908: Katie Casey was baseball mad, Had the fever and had it bad. Just to root for the home town crew, Ev'ry sou Katie blew. On a Saturday her young beau Called to see if she'd like to go To see a show But Miss Kate said "No, I'll tell you what you can do:"	Versione del 1927: Nelly Kelly loved baseball games, Knew the players, knew all their names. You could see her there ev'ry day, Shout "Hurray" When they'd play. Her boyfriend by the name of Joe Said, "To Coney Isle, dear, let's go", Then Nelly started to fret and pout, And to him, I heard her shout:
Coro per ambedue le versioni: Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win, it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, yo
Katie Casey saw all the games, Knew the players by their first names. Told the umpire he was wrong, All along, Good and strong. When the score was just two to two, Katie Casey knew what to do, Just to cheer up the boys she knew, She made the gang sing this song:	Nelly Kelly was sure some fan, She would root just like any man, Told the umpire he was wrong, All along, Good and strong. When the score was just two to two, Nelly Kelly knew what to do, Just to cheer up the boys she knew, She made the gang sing this song:


Versione del 1908	Versione del 1927

John Fogerty canta un ritornello che ogni bambino, che ha giocato a baseball, ha pensato almeno una volta. La canzone di "Centerfield" accenna a tre giocatori leggendari: Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio e al leggendario giocatore (Joe Jackson) soltanto da un'espressione "it ain't so".

Centerfield

by John C. Fogerty (1985)

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.
So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Yeah!

John Fogerty - Centerfield

La vita dell’atleta Harry Agganis, del New England, è stata piena d’oro per le gesta sportive e oro puro per come ha vissuto la sua vita. Splendido giocatore di football All American e College, star dei Boston Red Sox eletto nella Hall of Fame, morto giovanissimo a 26 anni. La sua morte stordì gli Stati Uniti e tutto il mondo dello sport. Questa canzone è un tributo all’uomo che ha toccato tanti cuori.

The Golden Greek

by Joe Pickering Jr.
2001

TIME WASHES AWAY PEOPLE WHO DEPART
YOU WHO REMAIN CHERISH HEROES OF THE HEART
THEY SELDOM GRACE EARTH BUT, NOT FOR LONG
THE GOLDEN GREEK LIVES IN THIS SONG
TOO MANY ATHLETES SPELL TEAM AS M-E
THE GOLDEN GREEK KNEW TEAM MEANT ONLY WE
THIS ALL AMERICAN TRULY STOOD APART
THE GOLDEN GREEK WAS SIMPLY PURE OF HEART
FOUR HUNDRED CHURCHES HONORED FOR FORTY DAYS
THE MAN WHO TOUCHED MANY HEARTS IN SO MANY WAYS
FIFTY THOUSAND SAID GOODBYE AS HIS CHURCH CHOIR
SANG LOVE FOR THE MAN WHO SET THE SPORTS WORLD AFIRE
HARRY AGGANIS STIRRED HEART AND SOUL
DID GOD TAKE HIM SO HE WOULD NEVER GROW OLD?
HEROES LIVE FOREVER THOUGH HARRY DIED YOUNG
THE SONG OF THE GOLDEN GREEK WILL ALWAYS BE SUNG
THOUSANDS OF MARINES IN THE CAROLINA SUN
NAMED A FIELD FOR THE MARINE WHO LEFT NO DEED UNDONE
THE FIRST OLYMPIC HEROES WON OLIVE WREATHS
HIS SILVER WREATH FROM THE KING AND QUEEN OF GREECE
THE SEVENTH CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS BORN IN LYNN
LEARNED PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT WAS THE WAY TO WIN
HE HIT MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHING AT FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE
THEN WENT ON TO GLORY ON THE SPORTS PAGE
THIS HALL OF FAMER SCRAMBLED FORTY YARDS FROM THE POCKET
HE THREW FEATHER PASSES OR SHOTS LIKE A ROCKET
THOUGH HE LOOKED AND PLAYED LIKE A GREEK GOD
THIS FLESH AND BLOOD HERO WAS ONE WITH THE LORD
HE GAVE TO THE POOR AND CHURCH, GIFTS HE RECEIVED
HARRY LIVED THE GOLDEN RULE, AS HE BELIEVED
HIS SMILE WARM AND BRIGHT LIKE SUNSHINE IN JULY
WHY AT TWENTY-SIX DID THIS RED SOX STAR DIE?
THE NFL PLAYED GAMES IN HONOR OF HIS NAME
ALL FOR A MAN WHO NEVER PLAYED A PRO GAME
HE PLANNED TO PLAY FOR THE SOX AND THE N-F-L
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONLY GOD CAN TELL
THIS HERO OF THE HEART WAS LIKE NO OTHER
HIS LAST WORDS: WERE "TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER"
IN THE PANTHEON OF SPORTS, THE GOLDEN GREEK REIGNS
HIS MEM'RY GLOWING LIKE THE OLYMPIC FLAME

Joe Pickering Jr. - The Golden Greek

C’è soltanto un Fenway Park. Non ce ne sarà mai un altro. Da quando Fenway è stato costruito, nel 1912, molti grandi giocatori ci hanno giocato. Le famiglie, per molte generazioni, hanno potuto vivere momenti indimenticabili all’interno di questo splendido stadio. Questa canzone saluta l'unico e solo Fenway Park.

Fenway
Salutes the one and only Fenway Park!

by Joe Pickering Jr.
2001

SOMEDAY THEY'LL TEAR DOWN FENWAY AND BUILD ANOTHER
IT MIGHT BE BETTER BUT IT WON'T BE FENWAY BROTHER
AS LONG AS MEMORIES LAST THEY'LL BE FENWAY PARK
NO WRECKING BALL WILL FALL, HER LIGHTS WON'T GROW DARK
THEY SAY TIME MARCHES ON, LET IT MARCH ON BY
OUR MEMORIES OF FENWAY PARK WILL NEVER DIE
SUMMER AFTER SUMMER AND SOMETIMES INTO FALL
WE ALL HAVE SEEN LEGENDS, GIVING THEIR ALL
THEY'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER. WOULD WE WANT IT SO?
THIS FIELD OF DREAMS WILL ALWAYS GLOW
WE'LL RECALL SMELLS AND TASTES OF FENWAY'S TREATS
AND LET'S FORGET THOSE BUM BURSTING WOODEN SEATS.
MORE THAN THE GREEN MONSTER IN THE OUTFIELD
OR FENWAY'S GRASS GREENER THAN AN IRISH FIELD
MORE THAN THE DIAMOND SPARKLING IN THE SUN
OR THE CLASSIC GAMES THE SOX HAVE LOST AND WON
IT'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAYING IN LIFE'S GAME
BASKING IN THE GLORY OF FENWAY PARK'S NAME
FENWAY IS FAMILY MEMORIES, MEMORIES IT WILL BE
AS LONG AS WE ALL HAVE A HEART TO SEE

Premere per ascoltare

Non c’è un fans dei Boston Red Sox, nel New England o dovunque nel mondo, che sia riuscito a dare una spiegazione al Mystery of the World. Questa canzone offre una spiegazione! Siete d’accordo?

The Mystery of the World
A Red Sox Fan's Explanation

by Joe Pickering Jr.
2001

NEW ENGLAND HOLDS ITS BREATH FROM SUMMER INTO FALL
OUR SOX CLIMB TO FIRST PLACE AND THEN BLOW IT ALL
WHY THE SOX LOSE WITH GLORY'S THE MYSTERY OF THE WORLD
NO ONE'S EVER SOLVED IT SO I'M GIVING IT A WHIRL.
THEY SAY THE SOX CAN'T WIN BECAUSE OF BABE RUTH'S CURSE
WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT'S MUCH, MUCH WORSE
DON'T BLAME THE SULTAN OF SWAT THE GREAT BABE RUTH
GOD'S NOT A RED SOX FAN, AND THAT'S THE AWFUL TRUTH
GOD KNOWS WHY THE SOX LOSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR
WHY DO THE YANKEES WIN? THE SAME REASON I FEAR
LORD, ARE YOU A YANKEE FAN, DON'T TELL IF YOU ARE
NO SOX FAN CAN STAND IT THAT'S GOING TOO FAR
ALL YOU RED SOX FANS ACROSS THE U.S.A.
AND THOSE UP IN CANADA WHO STAY UP TO WATCH THEM PLAY
SOX FANS IN MEXICO ALL THE WORLD TOO
EVEN YOU DOWN UNDER WHO PLAY BALL WITH THE KANGAROO
FANS ROUND THE WORLD PRAY FOR A SERIES WIN
PRAY HARD ROYAL ROOTERS FROM THE VATICAN
OH GOD DON'T HEAR OUR PRAYERS WITH A DEAF EAR
MAY ALL THE SAINTS SING "LET THE SOX WIN THIS YEAR!"

Premere per ascoltare

Babe Ruth fu ceduto ai New York Yankees subito dopo aver vinto con i Red Sox le World Series nel 1918. Da quella volta malgrado i numerosi tentativi i Red Sox non hanno mai più vinto le World Series (solo nel 2004 è finita la maledizione!). Molti fans dei Sox credono che Babe li abbia maledetti.

Babe Ruth's Curse I.
The Trade & The Curse

by Joe Pickering Jr.
1990

OUR RED SOX NOW LEAD BY A COUNTRY MILE
STILL FEAR GRIPS OUR HEARTS THE CROWD WEARS NO SMILE
BABE'S CURSE IS WITH US ALL CLOUDS GROW DARK
IT'S WORLD SERIES TIME AT OLD FENWAY PARK
THAT'S NOT DISTANT THUNDER I HEAR FROM THE SKY
BUT MISTER BABE RUTH STEPPING DOWN FROM ON HIGH
BABE'S COMING TO PLAY WITH HIS BAT AND HIS BALL
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T WIN THE SERIES THIS FALL
HEY MISTER BABE PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK
HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE RED SOX FANS TAKE
IN THE ANNALS OF BASEBALL NONE CAN BE WORSE
THAN THE TERRIBLE TALE OF BABE RUTH'S CURSE
IN THE SERIES OF '18 BASE STRODE TO THE MOUND
AND PROCEEDED TO MOW THE CHICAGO CUBS DOWN
BUT THAT'S THE LAST SERIES THE SOX EVER WON
SOON BABE RUTH WAS TRADED, THE DIRTY DEED DONE
THE BABE GRABBED THE TRAIN AND LEFT SAD OLD BEANTOWN
TO BUILD UP THE YANKEES AND TEAR THE SOX DOWN
ALL THE FANS AGREE, THE TRADE WAS A SIN
BUT IT WASN'T OUR FAULT BABE SO PLEASE LET US WIN!!

Premere per ascoltare

Questa canzone esamina come i fans dei Boston Red Sox ipotizzino che la loro squadra riesca a rompere realmente la “maledizione” e vincere un’altra World Series.

Babe Ruth's Curse II
Should the Curse End?

by Joe Pickering Jr.
1990

OUR RED SOX NOW LEAD BY A COUNTRY MILE
STILL FEAR GRIPS OUR HEARTS THE CROWD WEARS NO SMILE
BABE'S CURSE IS WITH US ALL CLOUDS GROW DARK
IT'S WORLD SERIES TIME AT OLD FENWAY PARK
THAT'S NOT DISTANT THUNDER I HEAR FROM THE SKY
BUT MISTER BABE RUTH STEPPING DOWN FROM ON HIGH
BABE'S COMING TO PLAY WITH HIS BAT AND HIS BALL
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T WIN THE SERIES THIS FALL
HEY MISTER BABE PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK
HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE RED SOX FANS TAKE
IN THE ANNALS OF BASEBALL NONE CAN BE WORSE
THAN THE TERRIBLE TALE OF BABE RUTH'S CURSE
IN THE SERIES OF '18 BASE STRODE TO THE MOUND
AND PROCEEDED TO MOW THE CHICAGO CUBS DOWN
BUT THAT'S THE LAST SERIES THE SOX EVER WON
SOON BABE RUTH WAS TRADED, THE DIRTY DEED DONE
WHEN VICTORY NEARS SOON COMES THE DEFEAT
'TIS ALWAYS BEEN THUS WE ALWAYS GET BEAT
WAIT STOP THE MUSIC!! WHAT WOULD WE DO IF OUR RED SOX DID WIN?
OHHH WHAT A HORRIBLE FIX WE'D BE IN!!
NOTHIN' TO HOPE FOR NOTHIN' TO FEAR
NEVER TO UTTER WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR
HEY MISTER BABE PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR CURSE
'TIS BETTER TO LOSE A WIN WOULD BE WORSE!!

Premere per ascoltare

Se i New York Yankees possono esser battuti solo raramente sul campo da gioco, i fans delle altre squadre si consolano a vicenda ascoltando questa canzone.

Baseball's Mortal Sin
When A Team Can Rarely Be Beaten

by Joe Pickering Jr.
2001

THE HOUSE BABE RUTH BUILT MAKES ME SO UPSET
MANY OTHER FANS HAVE THAT SAME REGRET
THE BABE BEGAN THEIR TRADITION TO BE FIRST
THEY PUT AWAY TEAMS LIKE BODIES IN A HEARSE
THEY FIND A PLAYER WHO CAN'T PLAY FOR HIS LIFE
ONCE IN PINSTRIPES HE'S THE BABE COME TO LIFE!
OH YANKEE FANS DON'T CARE FOR OTHER TEAMS!
THEY LAUGH AT OUR MOANS, THEY LAUGH AT OUR SCREAMS!
THE NEW YORK YANKEES ARE BASEBALL'S MORTAL SIN!
THEIR GREED'S SO GREAT, THEY ALWAYS NEED TO WIN
HOW CAN THEIR FANS STAND IT YEAR AFTER YEAR?
HOW BORING IT MUST BE TO CHEER WITHOUT FEAR!
ONLY UPS NO DOWNS, IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME
THE YANKEES WIN THE LAST WORLD SERIES GAME
LET'S DEMAND CHANGE, LET ANOTHER TEAM WIN
LET'S BREAK UP THE YANKEES, BASEBALL'S MORTAL SIN!
CHICAGO SUFFERS BASEBALL'S LONGEST DROUGHT
THEIR FANS STILL CHEER, BUT THEY SHOULD POUT
THE WHITE SOX HAVEN'T WON SINCE '17
YAH AND THE CUBS ARE WORSE, THAT'S TRULY OBSCENE!
THE CUBS LAST WON FLAGS IN 'O8 AND 'O7
SO FAR BACK, THE BABE WON'T CURSE FROM HEAVEN
THE BROOKLYN DODGERS FLED NEW YORK IN DISGRACE
THE YANKEES KILLED THEM IN MANY A SERIES RACE
LA FOLLOWS THE OLD DODGER TRADITION
NEW YORK STILL BEATS THEM INTO SUBMISSION
FOR YEARS ATLANTA'S BEEN TOPS IN THE N. L.
BUT THE YANKEES KNOCK THEM INTO BASEBALL HELL!
IN THE SUBWAY SERIES WITH THE NEW YORK METS
THE YANKEES TRAIN WRECKED THEM WITH NO REGRETS
THE DETROIT TIGERS ARE TURNED INTO PUSSY CATS
BY THE LION OF BOTH LEAGUES, THE KING OF CATS!
CLEVELAND TORONTO AND ALL THE OTHER TEAMS
LIE BROKEN ON THE YANKEES FIELD OF DREAMS
THEIR ARCH FOES THE RED SOX ARE THEIR BIG TREAT
THEY TORTURE THEM INTO GLORIOUS DEFEAT
THOSE DAMN NEW YORK YANKEES GET UNDER MY SKIN
LORD, WHEN WILL YOU LET SOME OTHER TEAM WIN!

Premere per ascoltare

Alla fine del 2000, nelle World Subway Series, i New York Mets hanno pianto disperatamente. Alcuni possono ritenere che Dio non sia un fans dei Mets. Può essere vero!

God's Not a Mets Fan
What Happened After The 2000 World Series

by Joe Pickering Jr.
2001

WE HOOPED AND WE HOLLERED IN THE '86 SERIES
BUT TEARS SOON FLOODED THE SUBWAY SERIES
SO METS FANS TURNED TO HEAVEN AS WE BELIEVE
BUT GOD HAD SOMETHING UP HIS HOLY SLEEVE
BEFORE THE FIRST GAME WE TRIED TO BE SCARY
OUT TROTTED KEITH, MOOKIE, LENNY, AND GARY
OUR HEROES OF '86 COULDN'T SCARE THE YANKS AWAY
LIKE THEY SCARED THE SOX AS BUCKNER'S LEGS GAVE WAY
OH RED SOX FANS SUFFER FROM BABE RUTH'S CURSE
BUT OUR NEW YORK METS HAVE IT MUCH MUCH WORSE
WORSE THAN BEING HAUNTED BY OLD BABE RUTH
GOD'S NOT A METS FAN AND THAT'S THE HELLISH TRUTH
GOD LOVES THE YANKEES I WISH IT WASN'T TRUE
BUT LOOK AT ALL THAT WE WENT THROUGH
THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES I CRIED WITH OUR METS
THE YANKEES ROBBED US WITHOUT REGRETS
OUR METS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT BUT YANKEE PRIDE
TURNED CLOSE GAMES INTO WINS FOR THEIR SIDE
WHY ROGER THREW A BAT FASTER THAN HIS BALL
HOW COULD OUR METS HAVE ANY CHANCE AT ALL??
NOW THOSE YANKEE FANS LAUGH IN OUR FACE
THEY DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE FROM THE HUMAN RACE
GOD WE'LL PRAY HARDER! PLEASE LET US WIN
BAN ROGER'S BAT AND BALL WE'LL BE A SHOO-IN!

Premere per ascoltare

Louis Sockalexis, un nativo americano della Penobscot Nation, era un atleta sensazionale in molti sport e i suoi successi sul campo hanno stupito gli immortali del baseball come John McGraw e altri grandi sportivi. Questa canzone racconta la storia della sua incredibile vita.

Louis Sockalexis
A Story of Louis Sockalexis

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

LOUIS SOCKALEXIS OF THE PENOBSCOT NATION
WAS A TURN OF THE CENTURY SPORTS SENSATION
THE FIRST TO MAKE THE HOLY CROSS SPORT'S HALL
THE NATION'S BEST COLLEGE PLAYER OF THEM ALL
IN HIS LAST YEAR THERE HE HIT FOUR FORTY FOUR
GOD GAVE HIM THE TALENT TO DO EVEN MORE
DID HE SMASH 600 FOOT HOMERS? COULD THAT BE TRUE?
LOUIS SOCKALEXIS A LEGEND THROUGH AND THROUGH
IN THE DEAD BALL ERA HE BELTED TITANIC BLOWS
BEYOND THE BASEBALL FIELD THRU FOURTH STORY WINDOWS
HE THREW STRIKES TO THE CATCHER 400 FEET AWAY
IF RUNNERS TRIED TO SCORE LOUIS MADE THEM PAY
NOT THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO MAKE IT TO THE MAJORS
BUT THE FIRST TO HEADLINE THE NATION'S SPORTS PAGES
HE BLAZED LIKE A COMET ACROSS THE BASEBALL SKY
TO HALL OF FAMERS LOUIS WAS A MARVEL TO THE EYE
THE IMMORTAL JOHN McGRAW SURELY SPOKE THE TRUTH
HE COULD'VE BEEN BETTER THAN TY COBB, WAGNER OR RUTH
HE NOT ONLY INSPIRED HE WAS FRANK MERRIWELL
LOUIS WAS MYTH COME TO LIFE UNTIL HE FELL
FOR THOUGH FASTER THAN THE FLEET FOOTED COBB
LOUIS COULDN'T OUTRUN HIMSELF OR BASEBALL'S MOB
FANS HOUNDED HIM WITH WAR HOOPS IN EVERY CITY
THE BEATING OF THEIR DRUMS LEFT HIM NO PITY
BLACKS WERE BARRED BUT THEY HAD A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
LOUIS PLAYED IN THE WHITE MAN'S MAJORS ALL ALONE
HOW MANY WAR HOOPS PIERCED HIS HEART?
HOW MANY CARTOONS TORE HIM APART?
THOUGH THERE WAS MUCH WONDER IN LOUIS' LIFE
THE PAIN INSIDE AND OUT CUT HIM LIKE A KNIFE
SOON THIS CYCLONE OF FAME WHIRRLED HIM OUT WITH THE RAIN
BACK TO THE LAND HE LOVED, HE DIED IN THE WOODS OF MAINE
MANY ASK WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN SPEAKING OF HIS NAME
LOUIS LIVES IN HIS PEOPLE'S HEART. THE TRUE HALL OF FAME

Premere per ascoltare

Non sono la vostra mascotte, io sono un uomo: Il pregiudizio che Louis Sockalexis ha dovuto affrontare purtroppo è vivo, anche a distanza di un secolo. Come siano rappresentati oggi i Nativi Americani negli sport lo dice questa canzone.

I'm Not Your Mascot, I'm a Man
Native American's as Mascots

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

SOME SPORTS NAMES ACROSS THIS NATION
ARE WELL BEYOND AN ABOMINATION
MY PEOPLE'S HERITAGE IS THROWN TO THE WINDS
WHEN TEAMS SPORT NAMES SUCH AS REDSKINS
YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY LAND
JOIN WITH ME TO TAKE A STAND
I'M NOT YOUR MASCOT I'M A MAN!
I'M NOT YOUR MASCOT I'M A MAN!
YOU WHO MAKE MONEY BY CASTING ASIDE
ALL THE DREAMS MY PEOPLE HAVE INSIDE
YOU SOW SEEDS OF CULTURAL GENOCIDE
OUR HUMANITY SHOULD NOT BE DENIED
PLEASE DON'T STEAL FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY
THEN, DISGUISE IT AS SOMETHING FUNNY
STOP THIS WAR ON MY DIGNITY
I NEED TO BE TRULY FREE!!
I'M NOT YOUR CARTOON I'M NOT YOUR CHIEF
IT'S MY HERITAGE DON'T BE A THIEF
SPORTS FANS WHEN YOU DO THE TOMAHAWK CHOP
THE HEADS OF NATIVE AMERICANS DROP
IT'S SIMPLE TO STOP THE TOMAHAWK CHOP
JUST SAY NO AND STOP! STOP! STOP!
EVERY WAR HOOP AND CHANT YOU MAKE
MAKES MY PEOPLE'S HEARTACHE!
BE BRAVER THAN BRAVE SPEAK UP IT'S WRONG
TO MAKE FUN OF OTHERS IN SPEECH AND SONG
DON'T BUY WHAT CHEAPENS BOTH ME AND YOU
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND DUMP CHIEF WAHOO!!
JOIN WITH ME THIS WAR MUST BE WON
HUMAN DIGNITY FOR EVERYONE!!

Premere per ascoltare

Le qualità migliori e la vita affascinante di Smokey Joe Williams . Due immortali, completamente differenti, Satchel Paige e Ty Cobb lodarono Smokey Joe. Satchel Paige disse che era il migliore che avesse mai visto. Ty Cobb sosteneva che poteva vincere trenta partite nelle majors. Ma, Smokey Joe fu escluso per il colore della sua pelle. E' stato eletto nel 2000 nella Hall of Fame.

Smokey Joe Williams
His Fascinating Life

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

SMOKEY JOE WAS SO GOOD TY COBB HAD TO SAY
HE'D WIN THIRTY GAMES IN THE MAJORS ANY DAY
SATCHEL PAIGE CLAIMED HE WAS THE BEST OF THEM ALL
SMOKEY NEVER SAW HIS PLAQUE IN THE SHRINE OF BASEBALL
SMOKEY JOE NEVER PITCHED IN A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME
BUT HE BEAT PITCHERS NOW IN THE HALL OF FAME
THIS BLACK NATIVE AMERICAN, A BIG TEXAN TOO
FACED A WALL OF HATRED HE COULD NOT PITCH THROUGH
HE PLAYED FOR THE LINCOLN GIANTS AND HOMESTEAD GRAYS
AND OTHER GREAT BLACK TEAMS IN HIS GLORY DAYS
IN THE WEST KNOWN AS CYCLONE IN THE EAST SMOKEY JOE
JUDGING FROM BOTH NICKNAMES, HE NEVER PITCHED SLOW
HIS CURVE BALL DROPPED LIKE A BIRD SHOT IN FLIGHT
YOU SMELLED SMOKE BUT HIS FASTBALL ZIPPED FROM SIGHT
WHEN HE GOT IN TROUBLE HE'D SMILE THROUGH IT ALL
THE STRIKEOUTS WOULD COME AND ONE BY ONE THEY'D FALL
DURING SMOKEY JOE WILLIAMS FIELD OF DREAMS
HE PITCHED TEN SHUTOUTS OF MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS
AND WON TWENTY-TWO GAMES OUT OF THIRTY
THERE'S NO DOUBT HE WAS FAR MORE THAN WORTHY
SMOKEY JOE WAS BARRED FOR THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN
YEARS LATER HE WAS STILL ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
BUT SMOKEY JOE WILLIAMS FINALLY MADE IT TO THE HALL
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER GREATS WHO GAVE THEIR ALL?

Premere per ascoltare

Molto prima che il grande Jackie Robinson nascesse Bud Fowler, Moses Walker ed altri eroi neri avevano rotto “the color line” nel baseball professionistico.”Let's Not Forgot “ ci chiede di ricordarsi di loro e degli altri per il coraggio e l’ispirazione per aver iniziato a sradicare, finalmente e permanentemente, “the color line”.

Let's Not Forget
Let's remember others for their courage & inspiration

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

LET'S NOT FORGET ALL THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE
THEY DIDN'T MAKE TODAY'S MAJORS THEY DID ENDURE
PLAYING BY THE RULES THEY BEAT JIM CROW AT HIS GAME
BECAUSE OF THEM, OTHERS MADE THE HALL OF FAME
BEFORE JACKIE ROBINSON BLAZED AROUND THE BASES
THE COLOR LINE WAS BROKEN BETWEEN THE RACES
BEFORE SATCHEL, JOSH, AND COOL PAPA BELL
BLACK PLAYERS LIVED IN A WHITE BASEBALL HELL
HONOR YOUNGER THE FIRST COLLEGE PLAYER AT OBERLIN
HONOR FOWLER FIRST PRO IN THE MINORS PITCHING FOR LYNN
HONOR WALKER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
THE FIRST BLACK MAJOR LEAGUER IN THE NATION
THROUGH BEANINGS AND JEERS AND SPIKINGS THEY STAYED
ON A FIELD OF HATRED SOMEHOW BLACKS PLAYED
WITH WHITES 'TIL THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
IN THOSE TWILIGHT YEARS THEY TRIED TO BE FREE
THEN, PRO BASEBALL TURNED SHARPLY BLACK OR WHITE
BUT IN NON LEAGUE GAMES FREEDOM SHINED HER LIGHT
WHEN BLACKS PLAYED WHITES THEY GAVE THEIR ALL
BLACKS WERE PLAYING MORE THAN BASEBALL
ROBINSON SLID HOME TO END THIS NATIONAL SHAME
BUNTED HOME BY BLACKS WHO LONG AGO PLAYED THE GAME
LET'S NOT FORGET ALL THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE

Premere per ascoltare

Quale giocatore di baseball, prossimo ad essere eletto nella Hall of Fame, viene ricordato bene per un “boo .. boo”? Ascolta chi? Dimenticati del “boo .. boo” ma ricordati e stima quel nome.

Who?
Forget The Boo Boo - Remember The Name

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

WHO LED THE N.L. IN DOUBLES TWICE
WHO PLAYED WITH NINE BODY PARTS IN ICE
WHO WAS THE N.L. BATTING CHAMP TOO
WHO'S BEST REMEMBERED FOR ONE BOO-BOO
WHO OUT-HIT MOST PLAYERS IN THE HALL OF FAME
WHO PLAYED MORE THAN MOST IN THE GAME
WHO HIT THREE HUNDRED PLUS FOR EIGHT SEASONS
WHO WAS GREAT FOR SO MANY REASONS
WHO HOLDS THE RECORD FOR ASSISTS AT FIRST
WHO'S BEEN TREATED THE VERY WORST
HIS CAREER SPANNED FOUR DECADES. WHAT A SHAME
THE GREAT BILL BUCKNER TOOK ALL THE BLAME
I STILL WINCH A BIT AT THAT EIGHTY SIX GAME
BUT NO LIFE WAS LOST...LIFE GOES ON THE SAME
BILL BUCKNER'S CLEARLY A MAJOR REASON
WHY WE HAD THAT GREAT EIGHTY SIX SEASON
IT'S OVER AND DONE WITH. TIME TO FORGET
TIME TO REALIZE WE'VE BEEN ALL WET
BILL MIGHT MAKE IT TO THE HALL OF FAME
UNTIL WE ATONE WE'RE IN THE HALL OF SHAME
IF YOU EVER COME BACK TO NEW ENGLAND BILL
I HOPE WE CHEER YOU FROM EVERY WINDOW SILL
BILL BUCKNER REMEMBER AND VALUE THAT NAME
A PLAYER WHO GAVE HIS HEART TO THE GAME

Premere per ascoltare

Chi è il più grande fans dei Red Sox? Questa canzone ha la risposta giusta. Ascolta e scopri chi è.

Who's the Greatest Red Sox Fan?
Find Out Who!

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

WHO'S THE GREATEST RED SOX FAN THERE EVER WAS?
A LADY NAMED DOROTHY SURELY BECAUSE
SHE WAS BORN IN A YEAR THE RED SOX WON IT ALL
AND STUCK WITH HER SOX NO MATTER THEIR RISE OR FALL
SHE FELT FAIR WEATHER FANS LIVED IN MORTAL SIN
EVEN SOME FRIENDS AND CERTAIN OF HER KIN
SHE TOOK ME TO SEE HER RED SOX AT FENWAY
SHE GAVE ME MEMORIES THAT LIVE WITH ME TODAY
SHE ADMIRED JOLTIN' JOE BUT DIDN'T WANT HIM TO WIN
SHE JUST KNEW HER SOX WOULD BE A SHOO IN
SHE LOVED TEDDY BALLGAME, THOUGHT HIM HEAVEN SENT
BUT BUCKY DENT SHE WANTED PLANTED IN CEMENT
IN AUGUST OF '78 THE RED SOX WERE MILES AHEAD
SHE PROCLAIMED HER SOX CHAMPS. THE HATED YANKEES DEAD
THEN BUCKY HIT A POP UP HOMER INTO THE STRATOSPHERE
ALAS HER HIGH HOPE SEASON ENDED WITH A TEAR
I FIRST HEARD HER CRY OVER THE SOX IN FORTY NINE
THOUGH YOUNG, I SHOULD'VE KNOWN THIS WAS A SIGN
WHAT'S THE MATTER I ASKED IN GREAT DISMAY
SHE CRIED OUT LOUD WE'VE LOST THE PENNANT TODAY
AFTER DECADES OF STRUGGLE, SHE WASN'T FREE
FREE OF WHAT WAS AND SOMEHOW HAS TO BE
THOUGH HER HEALTH WAS UP AND DOWN LIKE THE SOX HER LAST YEAR
SHE HELPED THEM WIN THE WILD CARD BY THE FORCE OF HER CHEER
AT THE END SHE RALLIED LIKE THE SOX BACK AND FORTH IT WENT
'TIL THE YANK'S IN THE SKY SENT SOMEONE BIGGER THAN BUCKY DENT
NOW SHE'S IN HEAVEN THERE'S SIMPLY NO GAME DELAY
AND HER BELOVED RED SOX WIN EVERY GAME THEY PLAY
SHE MUST BE WATCHING A YOUNG BABE RUTH ON THE MOUND
IF BABE'S NOT WITH THE SOX SHE'LL CHASE HIM FROM GOD'S TOWN!!

Premere per ascoltare

Questa canzone è basata su un incidente, realmente accaduto, tra Baltimora e Boston, durante una partita della Major League Baseball nel maggio del 1894. Mai nessuna partita di baseball fu così bollente.

The Hottest Game
Baltimore vs Boston

by Joe Pickering Jr. & Phil Coley
2001

WAY, WAY BACK IN EIGHTEEN NINETY-FOUR
BOSTON PLAYED THE HOTTEST GAME WITH BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE THE DAY BEFORE BEAT BEANTOWN BAD
THE CROWD GOT FIRED UP THEY TURNED RED-HOT MAD
BECAUSE OF THIS GAME, BEANTOWN WENT UP IN SMOKE
SOME SAY IT ALL STARTED BECAUSE OF A POKE
JOHN McGRAW AND FOG HORN TUCKER HAD A FIGHT
THEY TRADED LOTS OF PUNCHES LEFT AND RIGHT
BOTH DUGOUTS CLEARED, EVEN THE FANS BATTLED
A FIRE WAS SET ALL SHOULD HAVE SKIDADDLED!
WHILE THE BLAZE WARMED SEATS NEAR THE RIGHT FIELD WALL
ALL THE GRAND STAND CHANTED PLAY BALL! PLAY BALL!
NO ONE RANG THE ALARM THE FIRE WAS THOUGHT TOO SMALL
UNTIL THE FLAMES SPREAD OUTSIDE THE RIGHT FIELD WALL
WILL THEY PLAY THE GAME ONE FAN WOULD STILL SAY?
THE FLAMES ROARED GAMES OFF, BECAUSE OF FIRE TODAY
THE HOMES AND SHOPS ALL OF WOODEN FRAMES
AND THE SIX SPIRE GRAND STAND WERE SOON IN FLAMES
THE FIRE GRAND SLAMMED THROUGH THE POOR PART OF TOWN
TWO THOUSAND HOMELESS, TWO HUNDRED DWELLINGS DOWN
ALL THE FANS WENT HOME TO HOMES THAT NIGHT
FOR THE NEWLY HOMELESS, NO HOMES WERE IN SIGHT
THE NEXT DAY THE NEWS READ GAME REPLAYED THURSDAY
BUT WHERE DID THE HOMELESS GO? IT DIDN'T SAY

Premere per ascoltare

Catfish Hunter è stato il primo free agent del baseball. Dopo aver vinto la causa contro il proprietario degli Athletics, Finley O., per violazione del contratto, scelse di giocare con gli Yankees che lo riempirono di milioni di dollari. Dylan lo racconta così.

Catfish

by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy (1991)

Lazy stadium night
Catfish on the mound.
"Strike three," the umpire said,
Batter have to go back and sit down.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Used to work on Mr. Finley's farm
But the old man wouldn't pay
So he packed his glove and took his arm
An' one day he just ran away.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Come up where the Yankees are,
Dress up in a pinstripe suit,
Smoke a custom-made cigar,
Wear an alligator boot.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Carolina born and bred,
Love to hunt the little quail.
Got a hundred-acre spread,
Got some huntin' dogs for sale.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Reggie Jackson at the plate
Seein' nothin' but the curve,
Swing too early or too late
Got to eat what Catfish serve.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Even Billy Martin grins
When the Fish is in the game.
Every season twenty wins
Gonna make the Hall of Fame.

Catfish, million-dollar-man,
Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can.

Bob Dylan - Catfish

"E' stato il giocatore che senza dubbio ha sofferto, più di ogni altro player nella storia del baseball, gli abusi, le provocazioni e l'odio. E lui (Jackie Robinson) senza difficoltà alcuna si è complimentato e ha incoraggiato un ragazzino bianco di Oklahoma" - Mickey Mantle. La grandezza di Jakie Robinson vive anche in questa frase e in questa canzone a lui dedicata.

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?

by Woodrow Buddy Johnson & Count Basie (1949)

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
It went zoomin cross the left field wall.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.

And when he swung his bat,
the crowd went wild,
because he knocked that ball a solid mile.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.

Satchel Paige is mellow,
so is Campanella,
Newcombe and Doby, too.
But it's a natural fact,
when Jackie comes to bat,
the other team is through.

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain't all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone.

Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain't all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone.
Jackie's is a real gone guy.

Woodrow Buddy Johnson & Count Basie - Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?

"Se i Cubs fossero sul punto di vincere le World Series, sarebbe un evento coronarico per me" - Steve Goodman. A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request è la canzone che lega Steve Goodman ai Chicago Cubs. Nella "città del vento" è possibile ascoltare questa ballata all'inizio di ogni stagione del baseball.

A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request

by Steve Goodman (1983)

By the shore's of old Lake Michigan
Where the "hawk wind" blows so cold
An old Cub fan lay dying
In his midnight hour that tolled
Round his bed, his friends had all gathered
They knew his time was short
And on his head they put this bright blue cap
From his all-time favorite sport
He told them, "Its late and its getting dark in here"
And I know its time to go
But before I leave the line-up
Boys, there's just one thing I'd like to know

Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy-covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League

Told his friends "You know the law of averages says:
Anything will happen that can"
That's what it says
"But the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan"
The Cubs made me a criminal
Sent me down a wayward path
They stole my youth from me
(that's the truth)
I'd forsake my teachers
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancy

and then one thing led to another
and soon I'd discovered alcohol, gambling, dope
football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis
But what do you expect,
When you raise up a young boy's hopes
And then just crush 'em like so many paper beer cups.

Year after year after year
after year, after year, after year, after year, after year
'Til those hopes are just so much popcorn
for the pigeons beneath the 'L' tracks to eat
He said, "You know I'll never see Wrigley Field, anymore before my eternal rest
So if you have your pencils and your score cards ready,
and I'll read you my last request
He said, "Give me a double header funeral in Wrigley Field
On some sunny weekend day (no lights)
Have the organ play the "National Anthem"
and then a little 'na, na, na, na, hey hey, hey, Goodbye'
Make six bullpen pitchers, carry my coffin
and six ground keepers clear my path
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath
Its a beautiful day for a funeral, Hey Ernie lets play two!
Somebody go get Jack Brickhouse to come back,
and conduct just one more interview
Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field,
Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die

Build a big fire on home plate out of your Louisville Sluggers baseball bats,
And toss my coffin in
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow
From the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind
When my last remains go flying over the left-field wall
Will bid the bleacher bums ad?eu
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue

The dying man's friends told him to cut it out
They said stop it that's an awful shame
He whispered, "Don't Cry, we'll meet by and by near the Heavenly Hall of Fame
He said, "I've got season's tickets to watch the Angels now,
So its just what I'm going to do
He said, "but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs,
So its me that feels sorry for you!"

And he said, "Ahh Play, play that lonesome losers tune,
That's the one I like the best"
And he closed his eyes, and slipped away
What we got is the Dying Cub Fan's Last Request
And here it is

Steve Goodman - A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request

Uno dei singoli finali del leggendario duo Sam & Dave della etichetta Stax, "Knock It Out the Park" non è un vero fuoricampo. Liricamente, è una metafora confusa di amore = baseball sul modo in cui non puoi semplicemente colpire un singolo o un doppio perché "il tuo migliore amico potrebbe essere il suo pinch hitter". D'altra parte, il leggendario gruppo dei Dixie Flyers di Muscle Shoals sfornano un groove eccitabilmente paludoso, e la chimica combustibile del duo è evidente mentre scambiano versi e punteggiano la canzone con "Good god!" e "Lord have mercy!"

"Knock It Out Of The Park"

by Sam & Dave (1970)

We were raised in a bad neighbourhood
Yes, we were
I got stabbed and love
Didn't look so good, no
Sister Johnson lived two blocks away
Did I tell ya?
Gave me some advice the other day
What did she say?
She said, Sam
You're just like a ball
You gotta break it hard
Protect it from harm
You got to make the rest-up

When you hit the ball
Knock it out of the park, mmmmm
Cause a single will put you
In the dark now
When you swing, swing, swing
For the pitcher, Lord
Hitting in a double play
Just don't make no sense
Love her like a baseball game
I been told, tell 'em son
You don't win by getting on the base
Honey, you got to make the score, good God
You might put another man up
But you got to go to bat, yeah
Don't you try to swing for a single
She won't go for that
Hey, hey

Make sure you don't be fakin'
When you say you gonna quit her
Yeah, yeah
You might know your very next friend
Might be her pinch hitter
Yeah, yeah, oh, Lord
Might be her pinch hitter
Baby, yeah

Darling your kisses
Have got to have that spark
And when you do your lovin' baby
You got to knock it out of the park
Look, when you swing, swing
Swing for the pitcher
Putting in a double play y'all
Just don't make no sense, good God

Hit it, knock it out of the park
Hit it, love her like a baseball game
My, my, my, my baby
You might not know about it all
Hit it, got to knock it out of the park
My, my, my baby
You got to play to win y'all
Hit the ball
Got to make the score, yeah
Hit it, knock it out of the park
Get a hold on
Knock it out of the park
Hit it...

Sam & Dave - Knock It Out Of The Park

"Beh, sono seduto qui a pensare a quelle Philadelphia Fillies, e alcuni potrebbero pensare che sto parlando di baseball", canta Del Reeves sulla sua vigorosa hit del 1971. Semplicemente cambiando il Ph- in un F-, la star del country ha mostrato quanto facilmente i nomi delle squadre potessero passare dal maschile al femminile. Oltre a quelle belle ragazze, Reeves afferma di aver fatto amicizia con "alcune gemelle di bell'aspetto nel Minnesota" e "coccolato una ragazza dei Cubs nella vecchia Chicago".

Philadelphia Fillies

by Del Reeves (1971)

Well I'm sitting here a thinking about those Philadelphia Fillies
And some may think I'm talking bout baseball
But I'm talking about the ones that wear them dresses on so pretty
And the way they swing should be against the law

There's a lot of dangerous curves in that beautiful city
Oh but you'll never see no warning signs
And if you want to get right down to the nitty-gritty
You can bat a thousand every time

I met a Yankee in New York and I love an Angel out in LA
But those Philadelphia Fillies tore my mind apart
And this Giant's leaving Frisco today
[ guitar - steel ]
There's some nice looking twins up in Minnesota
And Atlanta's got a brave girl or two
And I cuddled a cubby in old Chicago
But Philadelphia I'm a coming back to you

I met a Yankee in New York...

Well I'm sitting here a thinking about those Philadelphia Fillies...
There's some nice looking twins up in Minnesota...

Del Reeves - Philadelphia Fillies

Quando la gente parla degli anni '70 come l'era più strana, bizzarra e colorata del baseball, parla di uniformi in poliestere, capelli lunghi che uscivano dai berretti da baseball e personaggi coloriti come il mancino Vida Blue. Nel 1971 - solo alla sua seconda stagione nelle major - ha vinto sia il premio MVP che il Cy Young. Il cantautore Albert Jones ha pubblicato questo tributo amabilmente funky lo stesso anno, con il suo groove molto basso, l'armonica chiassosa e la voce rilassata. "Il baseball è ancora il nostro gioco nazionale, ma gli ultimi anni sono stati un po' monotoni", afferma Jones, prima di accreditare a Blue l'iniezione di un po' di entusiasmo al gioco. "Ora ne stanno parlando da una città all'altra, perché un battitore non riesce a battere Vida".

Vida Blue

by Albert Jones (1971)

Albert Jones - Vida Blue

Nel suo primo album dopo il ritiro Ol 'Blue Eyes Is Back, del 1973, Frank Sinatra includeva questa reminiscenza sentimentale del baseball, che è meno interessata al gioco stesso e più all'esperienza di essere allo stadio di baseball: mangiare hot dog, bere birra, trovarsi con la famiglia e gli amici, guardando i fuochi d'artificio. Questa potrebbe essere la prima canzone a lanciare il baseball nella luce rosea della nostalgia, trasformando il gioco in un simbolo di un grande passato americano che è stato presumibilmente smantellato dallo sconvolgimento del decennio precedente. La canzone può anche essere vista come una metafora di qualsiasi tipo di perdita, come suggerito dalla penultima riga della canzone, che non è necessariamente collegata al baseball: "E il cielo è diventato così nuvoloso, quando era solitamente così chiaro ... "

There Used to Be a Ballpark

by Frank Sinatra (1973)

And there used to be a ballpark where the field was warm and green
And the people played their crazy game with a joy I'd never seen
And the air was such a wonder from the hot dogs and the beer
Yes, there used a ballpark right here

And there used to be rock candy and a great big Fourth of July
With the fireworks exploding all across the summer sky
And the people watched in wonder, how they'd laugh and how they'd cheer
And there used to be a ballpark right here

Now the children try to find it
And they can't believe their eyes
`cause the old team just isn't playing
And the new team hardly tries

And the sky has got so cloudy
When it used to be so clear
And the summer went so quickly this year

Yes, there used to be a ballpark right here

Frank Sinatra - There Used to Be a Ballpark

I Love Mickey è stata registrata nel 1956 da Mickey Mantle e Teresa Brewer. Teresa Brewer scrisse il testo e Mickey Mantle cantò. La canzone nacque un giorno che Teresa Brewer era stata ad una partita degli Yankees e vide Mickey in azione. Lasciando lo stadio Teresa disse ad un suo amico "Questo Mantle è terrificante! Qualcuno dovrebbe scrivere una canzone su di lui.

I love Mickey

by Teresa Brewer & Mickey Mantle (1956)

I love Mickey (Mickey who)
You know who, the fella
With the celebrated swing

Oh, I love Mickey (Mickey who)
You know who, the one who
Drives me batty every spring

If I don’t make a hit with him
My heart will break in two
I wish that I could catch him
And pitch a lttle woo

I love Mickey (Mickey who)
Mickey you (Mickey me)
That’s who

I love Mickey (Mickey who)
You know who, his muscles
Are a mighty sight to see

Oh, I love Mickey (Mickey who)
You know who, the one I want
To steal right home with me

Oh, I’d sacrifice most anything
To win his many charms
I’d like to be a fly ball
And pop right in his arms

I love Mickey (Mickey who)
Mickey Mantle, ooh, I love you
(Who, me) ooh, I love you
(Not Yogi Berra)

Ooh, I love you
Mickey

Teresa Brewer & Mickey Mantle - I love Mickey

La leggendaria Les Brown Orchestra riportò in vita le parole e la musica che Alan Courtney e Ben Homer avevano solamente scritto nel 1941. La canzone ispirata al record di Joe DiMaggio, che battè almeno una valida in cinquantasei partite consecutive, fu giustamente intitolata Joltin 'Joe DiMaggio. "La combinazione di professionalità e di squisita grazia con cui Joe DiMaggio ha modificato l'arte di giocare all'esterno centro è qualcosa che nessun media del baseball può misurare e deve essere visto per essere creduto e apprezzato" - The New York Times.

Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

by Ben Homer & Alan Courtney (1941)

Hello Joe, whatta you know?
We need a hit so here I go.
Ball one (Yea!)
Ball two (Yea!)
Strike one (Booo!)
Strike two (Kill that umpire!)
A case of Wheaties

He started baseball's famous streak
That's got us all aglow
He's just a man and not a freak,
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio.

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

He tied the mark at forty-four
July the 1st you know
Since then he's hit a good twelve more
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

From coast to coast that's all you'll hear
Of Joe the one man show
He's glorified the horsehide sphere
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

He'll live in baseball's Hall of Fame
He got there blow by blow
Our kids will tell their kids his name
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

We dream of Joey with the light brown plaque
Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

And now they speak in whispers low
Of how they stopped our Joe
One night in Cleveland Oh Oh Oh
Goodbye streak DiMaggio

Ben Homer & Alan Courtney - Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Il Baseball, i giovani, e "Glory Days" sono i soggetti del video di Bruce Springsteen, quando fu presentato per la prima volta l'album "Born in the USA". Le squadre di Major League, Minor League e innumerevoli altre squadre di baseball suonano al cambio di inning la canzone "Glory Days".

Glory Days

Written by Bruce Springsteen (1984)

I had a friend was a big baseball player
back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
but all he kept talking about was

Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days

Well there's a girl that lives up the block
back in school she could turn all the boy's heads
Sometimes on a Friday I'll stop by
and have a few drinks after she put her kids to bed
Her and her husband Bobby well they split up
I guess it's two years gone by now
We just sit around talking about the old times,
she says when she feels like crying
she starts laughing thinking about

Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days

My old man worked twenty years on the line
and they let him go
Now everywhere he goes out looking for work
they just tell him that he's too old
I was nine nine years old and he was working at the
Metuchen Ford plant assembly line
Now he just sits on a stool down at the Legion hall
but I can tell what's on his mind

Glory days yeah goin back
Glory days aw he ain't never had
Glory days, glory days

Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight
and I'm going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days

Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days

Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

L'ode di Warren Zevon al mancino Bill "Spaceman" Lee dura solo un minuto e mezzo, ma contiene volumi. Pontificando sulle eccentricità del mancino più del suo valore, questa breve fantasticheria celebra il suo individualismo e include non uno ma due assoli di armonica, tra virgolette, come se l'unico modo per rendere giustizia all'uomo sia senza parole.

Bill Lee

by Warren Zevon (1980)

You're supposed to sit on your ass and nod at stupid things
Man, that's hard to do
And if you don't, they'll screw you
And if you do, they'll screw you, too

When I'm standing in the middle of the diamond all alone
I always play to win
When it comes to skin and bone

And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like.... [harmonica break]
And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like.... [harmonica break]

Warren Zevon - Bill Lee

Prima di diventare solista, la rapper di origine sudafricane e naturalizzata newyorkese Jean Grae (a.k.a. Tsidi Ibrahim) era un terzo del trio Natural Resource di New York, che ha registrato solo una manciata di singoli a metà degli anni '90. Tra questi c'è "Negro Baseball League". In questa canzone, il gruppo dà visibilità al mercato del rap che poi esplode disegnando un parallelo tra l'industria musicale della metà degli anni novanta e le Negro Leagues dell'era pre-Seconda Guerra Mondiale. In "Negro League Baseball", il trio trasforma una metafora dell'industria musicale / sportiva in un contorto commento sociale. Grae è irrispettosa come non mai, mentre prende in giro giocatori, arbitri e fans. Con la frase "Non sono patriottica, quindi non canterò l'inno Nazionale", è riuscita a spianare la strada a Colin Kaepernick. Il confronto tra Negro League Baseball e hip-hop può essere spiegato in quanto vi erano momenti in cui entrambi erano sotterranei per l'America bianca e ignorati dalle principali industrie del baseball e della musica.

Negro Baseball Leagues

by Jean Grae feat. Natural Resource (1996)

Check, check

First batter up, first-first batter up

Now, enterin’ the batter’s box
Is a guy who wears Champion socks and likes rings with rocks
Throw up my middle finger to the umpire
‘Cause niggas just choosin’ the new talent just need to retire
Check the signals from my manager, the first base coach
He’s throwin’ signs, tellin’ me the label’s just playin’ cutthroat
Yo, I hit him with a tape or should I say I take a check swing?
I hear the crowd sing, go meet Plug, and the telephone ring
He says I need more beats—wait a minute—no doubt
My temper runs out. Three pitches later, I strike the fuck out
Yo, shit like this happens to the real MC’s
Because the labels wanna sign up the commercial wannabes
And if, it ain’t that, it’s just a little bit more, sayin’
“Umm, can you put on a screwface and scream lyrics that’s hardcore?”
I adore this whole rap persona
But some of you A&R’s must be mixin’ coke witcha marijuana
Talkin’, “Oooh, he got the new shit.”
I’m on his dick but that’s an MC that come out with one bangin’ hit.”
I split atoms, blow up as if I was atomic
Labels talk so much shit, yo, I laugh at them like they was comics
Check the scoreboard—we’re up by one
Two more hitters to go, and the song ain’t even done, baseball

First batter up, well, here’s the pitch, that’s a curve
Second batter up because the first got served

From the kids in the batting cages to the pro players
To the labels and the mob in the bleachers makin’ waves
Lookin’ at the pitcher like, “Man, what gives?”
They got one-arm fugitives throwin’ with prosthetic limbs
Look from the team to the umpire means that the
Man got demoted from stadiums to refereein’ gyms
Synonyms from big cheese to the independent label
Couldn’t pay up they debt, so they got cut like unpaid cable
B. E. I. S. B-O-L, accent on the “O.” GOALLLL!
Feel sweat tricklin’ down the back of my neck
Tighten my grip on the bat, take a swing and it’s a technical foul
Nah, that’s basketball… Whatever, good call
How come when black men hit the field, they were throwin’ bottles?
Now they throwin’ million dollar deals?
When I steal bases, I do it with pride
For Jackie Robinson, certified—forerunner for us
Homeruns, we must hit ’em straight out the ballpark
I’m not patriotic, so I won’t sing the National
Underlyin’ stipulations playing underhanded ways
It pays to have your representative stay
Or you’ll have top executives gettin’ all possessive
With your money and it’s not funny
But when loot is involved, all problems get solved
Umm, maybe because you supply they cocaine fetish
To finish this, this business ain’t nothin’ but corrupt
Forget all this garbage—I’d rather play tennis

First batter up, well, here’s the pitch, that’s a curve
Second batter up because the first got served

Baseball was never for Blacks
It used to be a pastime for Whites
Now it has mad Puerto Ricans
But that’s not the point of the song
The point of the song and I make it mad simple
When I be flippin’ this script
Is that the industry is all over the mound
Pitchin’ but nobody’s makin’ any hits—hmm
Baseball is not just a sport
It’s the verbal, mental, physical, spiritual
Emotional level that we are on
It’s about time that all you devils was gone
[?] like [Tron?]. I said it and meant it
If you cannot handle it, then for your ears it’s not intended
You can play the documented, all athletes quoted
‘Cause when you speak to be exploited, then your spot will get exploded
Bases are loaded, but there is no RBI in the stadium
Where players try to be hard as titanium
I got your cranium movin’ when I be showin’ and provin’
Now you fear that your career is goin’ down the tubes
And it’ll be along with industry that’s withering
And what’s left? Ocean’s about to blow to smithereens
I bring lyrical formats that you’ll admire
And to the Hall of Fame I will go when I retire
They’ll set your world afire. There is nobody to fear
When every umpire, A&R is screamin’ that, “You’re outta here!”
And to your amazement, a tax write-off is your replacement
You gotta face it—there is no other crew adjacent
With sounds from the basement, we rise
We energize, to take over the whole enterprise
By now, you realize that when we’re in the place
That we will come fat over piano and the bass
If you’re lookin’ for security, then you can end your chase
Come home to Negro League and you’ll be safe
Baseball!

No doubt, Negro League is in the house
No doubt, no doubt, knockin’ runs out
‘Cause we do it like this, we do it like that
I was rockin’ stage just like to a bat
Sent to home back when I be doing my thing
Hit a home run with the Negro League theme
Do it like this, do it like that
I was rockin’ stage just like to a bat
Set to home back when I be doing my thing
Hit the home run with the Negro League swing.

Jean Grae feat. Natural Resource - Negro Baseball Leagues

Una canzone che parla di posti a sedere a buon mercato negli stadi di Triplo A e ci ricorda che il baseball è molto più di un record di partite vinte e perse. "Non preoccuparti molto per il pennant, dobbiamo solo vedere come i ragazzi battono lungo". - Cheap Seats Alabama (1993)

Cheap Seats

by Alabama (1993)

This town ain't big, this town ain't small
It's a little of both they say
Our ball club may be minor league but at least it's Triple-A

We sit below the Marlboro man, above the right field wall
We do the wave all by ourself
Hang ump, a blind man could've made that call

We like beer flat as can be
We like our dogs with mustard and relish
We got a great pitcher what's his name
Well, we can't even spell it
We don't worry about the pennant much
We just like to see the boys hit it deep
There's nothing like the view from the cheap seats

The game was close, we'll call it a win
Go off to toast the boys again
That local band is back in town
They got a kinda minor league sound

They're not that bad, they're not that good
But all in all it's understood
We wanna dance, they wanna play
We wouldn't have it any other way

Cheap seats

Now the majors called up, oh, what's his name
And one more buildin' rises tall
And suddenly we're all grown up
And this old town's not quite so small
But I'll always miss the middle size town
In the middle of the middle-west
With no name pitchers and local bands,
And mustard and relish and all the rest

Alabama - Cheap seats

Combinate testi commoventi con un pizzico di umorismo e una voce ricca di gospel otterrete Life is a Ball Game. Questo bellissimo canto è una combinazione spirituale della Bibbia e il passatempo nazionale come la gente del Vecchio e Nuovo Testamento che scende in campo per giocare una partitina di baseball. "Wynona Carr ha dimostrato che la musica gospel non sempre deve essere seria per ottenere l'obbiettivo prefissato" - The Gospel Index.

Life is a Ball Game

by Sister Wynona Carr (1952)

Life is a ballgame

Bein' played each day

Life is a ballgame

Everybody can play

Jesus is standin' at home plate

Waitin' for you there

Life is a ballgame, but

You've got to play it fair.

First base is temptation,

The second base is sin

Third base tribulation

If you pass you can make it in

Ol' man Solomon is the umpire

And Satan is pitchin the game

He'll do his best to strike you out

Keep playin' just the same.

Daniel was the first to bat

You know he prayed three times a day

When Satan threw him a fast ball

You know he hit it anyway

Job came in the next inning

Satan struck him in every way,

But job he hit a home run

And came on in that day.

Prayer will be your strong bat

To hit at Satan's ball

And when you start to swing it

You've got to give it your all in all

Faith will be your catcher

On him you can depend

And Jesus is standing at Home Plate

Just waitin for you to come in.

Moses is standin' on the side lines

Just waitin to be called

And when he parted the Red Sea

He gave Christ is all-in-all

John came in the last inning

When the game was almost don

Then God gave John a vision

And he knew he'd all ready won.

Sister Wynona Carr - Life Is A Ballgame

"Non so che inning sia, ho dimenticato il punteggio. Tutta la squadra sta urlando e non so per cosa" - Peter, Paul & Mary in Rigth Field (1988). Le armonie di Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Mamas and the Pappas e Peter, Paul & Mary erano la voci fondamentali del movimento "love and peace". "Right Field" è una di quelle classiche canzoni che risuona con la semplicità innocente di un tempo attraverso il nostro passatempo nazionale.

Right Field

by Willie Welch (1986)

Saturday summers when I was a kid,
We'd run to the school yard and here's what we did,
We'd pick out the captains and we'd choose up the teams,
It was always a measure of my self esteem.
Cause the fastest, the strongest played shortstop and first,
the last ones they picked were the worst.
I never needed to ask, it was sealed,
I just took up my place in right field.

Playing right field, its easy you know,
You can be awkward, you can be slow,
That's why I'm here in right field,
Just watching the dandelions grow.

Playing right field can be lonely and dull,
Little leagues never have lefties that pull,
I dream of the day, when they hit one my way,
They never did, but still I would pray,
That I'd make a fantastic catch on the run,
And not lose the ball in the sun.
And then I'd awake from this long reverie,
And pray that the ball never came out to me.
Here in ...

[solo break]

Off in the distance, the game's dragging on,
There's strikes on the batter, some runners are on,
I don't know the inning, I've forgotten the score.
The whole team is yelling and I don't know what for,
Suddenly everyone's looking at me,
My mind has been wandering, what could it be?
They point to the sky and I look up above,
And the baseball falls into my glove!

Here in right field, Its important you know,
You gotta know how to catch, you gotta know how to throw,
That's why I'm here in right field,
Just watching the dandelions grow.

Peter, Paul & Mary - Rigth Field

Danny Kaye racconta hit by hit l'appassionante partita che portò i Los Angels Dodgers, nel 1962, alla corsa per il pennant. Sfortunatamente i Dodgers arrivarono alla pari con i San Francisco Giants. Nei play off, al meglio delle tre partite, Los Angeles perse ma la stagione fu esaltante.

D-O-D-G-E-R-S (Oh Really? No, O'Malley)

by Danny Kaye (1962)

So I say D, I say D-O,
D-O-D,
D-O-D-G,
D-O-D-G-E-R-S, team, team, team, team

O, I say O-M,
O-M-A,
O-M-A-L,
O-M-A-L-L-E-Y, Oh really? No, O'Malley

Sandy Koufax, oh my Drysdale, Maury Wills
I love you so
And we defy

Defy the J-I,
J-I-N,
J-I-N-T,
J-I-N-T-S, Giants!

Play ball

Orlando Cepeda is at bat with the bases jammed
Orlando Cepeda with a Wham! Bam!
He hit a grand slam
In the very first inning
But it's only the beginning

In the third like a bird we get two on an away
Then Fairly hits into a double play
Here comes big Frank Howard yes-sirree
Boy what a swing!
Strike three

Oh dem B, oh dem B-U,
B-U-M,
B-U-M-S, dem bums, dem bums, dem dry bums
Oh they may be bums but they're my bums

Top of the fifth

"Say Hey" Willy Mays hits a three bagger down the right field line
But he's out trying to stretch it to a homer
As Roseboro tags him on the bottom of the spine
With a crack you can hear all the way back up to San Francisco
Open your hospital

Inning six

Maury Wills draws a walk in the coach's box
Leo Durocher, Leo Durocher starts to wiggle and to twitch
A signal? No, an itch
Go Maury, Go Maury, Go, Go, Go
Maury goes
The catcher throws

Right from the solarplexus
At the bag he beats the tag
That mighty little waif
And umpire Conlan cries "you're out!"
Out? Out?

Down in the dug-out Alston glowers
Up in the booth Vin Scully frowns
Out in the stands O'Malley grins
Attendance fifty thousand
And what does O'Malley do? Ahh!

Bottom of the ninth

Four to nutin'
Last chance
Push the button
Oh we're pleadin', beggin', on our knees
Come on you Flatbush refugees

Maury Wills at bat
Hit it for me once
Stu Miller throws
Maury bunts
Cepeda runs to field the ball and Hiller covers first
Haller runs to back up Hiller, Hiller crashes into Miller
Miller falls, drops the ball and Conlan calls "safe!"

Yeah Maury!
Gilliam up
Miller grunts
Miller throws
Gilliam bunts

Cepeda runs to field the ball and Hiller covers first
Howard runs to back up Hiller, Hiller crashes into Miller
Miller falls, drops the ball and Conlan calls "safe!" Yeah Conlan!
Willie Davis gets a hit and Tommy does the same
Here comes Mr. Howard with a chance to win the game

Hit it once
Big Frank bunts?
Cepeda runs to field the ball, so does Hiller, so does Miller
Miller hollers Hiller
Hiller hollers Miller

Haller hollers Hiller points to Miller with his fist
And that's the Miller, Hiller, Haller hallelujah twist
The Davises score it's four to four
Howard's still running the bases
From second to third it's almost absurd

Amazement on everyones faces
He's heading for home
He hasn't a chance
The poor nut is gonna be dead
But the ball hits him right in the seat of his pants

And he scores
That's using your head

So I say D, I say D-O,
D-O-D-G-E-R-S

The team that's all heart
All heart and all thumbs
They're my Los Angeles
Your Los Angeles
Our Los Angeles
Do you really think we'll really win the pennant?

Bums! Oooo dem bums!

Danny Kaye - D-O-D-G-E-R-S (Oh Really? No, O'Malley)

29 settembre 1954. Gara 1 delle World Series, con i New York Giants che combattono contro i Cleveland Indians. Nella parte alta dell'ottavo inning, Vic Wertz dei Tribe colpisce un probabile fuoricampo al centro. L'esterno centro dei Giants Willie Mays - soprannominato Say Hey Kid - non si trova nei paraggi della zona dove probabilmente cadrà la pallina e deve correre verso il muro, ma riesce ad effettuare una presa impossibile. I Giants vincono la partita nel decimo inning e vincono la serie. L'anno successivo, la proto-rocker band The Treniers, diretta dai gemelli Claude e Cliff, esaltarono l'abilità di Mays sul campo e al piatto: " He covers center like he’s got jet shoes / the other batters get the Willie blues”.

Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)

The Treniers (1955)

Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
Say hey, say who?
Swinging at the plate
Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
That Giants kid is great

When he hits the ball, it’s long gone man
He hits it farther than Campy can
Swings the bat like a little lead pipe
when they reach the ball it’s overripe

Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
Say hey, say who?
Swinging at the plate
Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
That Giants kid is great

He runs the bases like a choo-choo train
Swings around second like an aeroplane
His cap flies off when he passes third
And he heads home like an eagle bird.

Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
Say hey, say who?
Swinging at the plate
Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
That Giants kid is great

Yes he covers center like he had jet shoes
The other batters get the willie blues
Anything hit his way is out
Man it just don’t pay those guys to plout

Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
Say hey, say who?
Swinging at the plate
Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
That Giants kid is great

When Willie served his Uncle Sam
he left the Giants in an awful jam
but now he’s back and he’s Leo’s joy
And Willie’s still a growing boy

Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
Say hey, say who?
Swinging at the plate
Say hey, say who?
Say Willie
That Giants kid is great
That Giants kid is great
Say Willie, Whatcha gonna say
Say Hey

The Treniers - Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)

David Frishberg canta, usando i nomi dei giocatori come testo e il suono dolce di una bossa nova, questa nostalgica ballata che compone il classico pezzo conosciuto come "Van Lingle Mungo". Il titolo della canzone prende il nome del grande lanciatore degli anni '30 dei Brooklyn Dodgers e dei NY Giants.

Van Lingle Mungo

by David Frishberg (1970)

HEENEY MAJESKI
JOHNNY GEE
EDDIE JOOST
JOHNNY PESKY
THORNTON LEE
DANNY GARDELLA
VAN LINGLE MUNGO

WHITEY KUROWSKI
MAX LANIER
EDDIE WAITKUS
JOHNNY VANDER MEER
BOB ESTALELLA
VAN LINGLE MUNGO

AUGIE BERGAMO
SIGMUND JAKUCKI
BIG JOHNNY MIZE
and
BARNEY MCCOSKY
HAL TROSKY
AUGIE GALAN
and
PINKY MAY
STAN HACK
and
FRENCHY BORDAGARAY
PHIL CAVARRETTA
GEORGE MCQUINN
HOWARD POLLET
and
EARLY WYNN
ROY CAMPANELLA
VAN LINGLE MUNGO

AUGIE BERGAMO
SIGMUND JAKUCKI
BIG JOHNNY MIZE
and
BARNEY MCCOSKY
HAL TROSKY
JOHN ANTONELLI
FERRIS FAIN
FRANKIE CROSETTI
JOHNNY SAIN
HARRY BRECHEEN
and
LOU BOUDREAU
FRANKIE GUSTINE
and
CLAUDE PASSEAU
EDDIE BASINSKI
ERNIE LOMBARDI
HUEY MULCAHY
VAN LINGLE

VAN LINGLE MUNGO

David Frishberg - Van Lingle Mungo

Kenny Rogers nel 1999 uscì con l'album "She Rides Wild Horses" caratterizzato da una paio di singoli di successo che lo riportò, dopo una lunga assenza, in vetta alle classifiche americane. Il primo di questi due è una bella canzone sentimentale dal titolo "Buy Me a Rose" caratterizzata dalla splendida voce di sostegno di Alison Krauss. Il secondo singolo è una storia sentimentale sul baseball intitolata "The Greatest".

The Greatest

by Kenny Rogers (1999)

Little Boy, in a baseball hat
Stands in the field with his ball and bat
Says I am the greatest player of them all
Puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
Swings his bat all the way around
The world's so still you can hear the sound
The baseball falls to the ground

Now the little boy doesn't say a word
Picks up his ball, he is undeterred
Says I am the greatest there has ever been
And he grits his teeth and he tries it again

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
Swings his bat all the way around
The world's so still you can hear the sound
The baseball falls to the ground

He makes no excuses, He shows no fears
He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers

Little boy, he adjusts his hat
Picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says I am the greatest the game is on the line
And he gives his all one last time

And the ball goes up like the moon so bright
Swings his bat with all his might
And the world's so still as still can be
And the baseball falls, and that's strike three

Now it's supper time and his mama calls
Little boy starts home with his bat and ball
Says I am the greatest that is a fact
But even I didn't know I could pitch like that

Kenny Rogers - The Greatest

Nel 1981, Terry Cashman registrò ciò che è comunemente denominato "Baseball Talkin", che in origine si chiamava "Willie, Mickey and The Duke". Divenne , e lo è ancora, una canzone pop molto popolare che rende omaggio ai giocatori degli anni Cinquanta e ha una vasta gamma di varianti che sono state rifatte negli anni successivi. Queste due versioni sono le varianti della melodia classica che omaggiano i Detroit Tigers e gli Yankees.

Talkin' Tiger Baseball

by Terry Cashman (1981, 1983, 1988, 1992, 1996)

It was great to be a Tiger fan with the Georgia Peach and Wahoo Sam
They won the pennet three years in a row
Then Heilman, batting titles in years that were odd
Briggs Stadium always had a hitting show

I’m talkin’ baseball
Hank and Charlie slugging
Tiger baseball
Schoolboy did the chucking
Goose Goslin made opposing pitchers scream
Then Georgie Kell came upon the scene

I’m talking baseball, the motor city team
Well Hal and Dizzy set ‘em down
And Kaline won the batting crown
The year before he the right to vote
Charlie Maxwell’s Sunday fun
Denny’s year of 31
The sailing was great in ’68 on the series boat

I’m talkin’ baseball
Rocky, Norm and Willie
Tiger baseball
McAullife, Gates and Billy
Rootin’ Hef, Freehan, Harvey Kuenn
Lolich in the series winning three

I’m talking baseball, the motor city team
Now when you’re talkin’ Tiger baseball
Rusty and old black Mike
Cesar’s seven hits in one
What would Mark “The Bird” have done?
One Tiger had two slams in a game, Northrup was his name

The Tigers have tradition
And Sparky’s one ambition
Is to get them to the classic in the fall
New names join the old
Another team unfolds
There a good bet with Morris and Chet
So lets play ball

I’m talkin’ baseball
Trammell, Dave and Lance
Tiger baseball
Kirk Gibson and the Champ
Whitaker and Herndon are on the scene
Wilcox and Aurelio have the steam

I’m talking baseball, the motor city team

Tiger baseball, the motor cities team
Motown, Motown, Motown

I’m talkin’ baseball, the motor city team
Motown, Motown, Motown
Motown, Motown, Motown

Tiger baseball, the motor city team
Motown, Motown, Motown

Talkin’ baseball, the motor city team.

Terry Cashman - Talkin' Tiger Baseball

Talkin' Yankees Baseball

by Terry Cashman (1981, 1983, 1988, 1992, 1996)

"The Stadium was built by Ruth,
The Iron Horse was in his youth.
The Yankees lineup was a Murderers Row.
And after Huggins' reign.
They were champions again.
And winning became the only game for Marse-a Joe!

I'm Talkin' baseball!
Bill Dickey, and Lazzeri.
Yankees baseball!
Henrich, Andy Carey.
Reynolds, Raschi, Goofy's bag of tricks.
They knew 'em in the Apple and the sticks.
Like The Bambino! The Clipper, and the Mick.

Well, Casey took over. The Yankees owned October.
Whitey was The Chairman of the Board.
Then the Boss came into bat.
With Reggie and the Cat.
They ended the skid, with Billy the Kid.
And the Bronx, they roared!

I'm Talkin' baseball!
Yogi, Moose, and Jerry.
Yankees baseball!
Pepitone and Terry.
Ellie, Kubek, Munson never quit.
The porch in right was Roger's bailiwick.
Like The Bambino! The Clipper, and the Mick.

And how about Mel Allen?
And Larsen's perfect game.
Gehrig's speech, Joe Page the major,
Mattingly, and Ron the Gator
Holy Cow, The Scooter's got the ball!
And now, he's in the Hall.

In pinstripe tradition,
The Yankees have a mission.
They're headed for the Classic in the Fall.
A new century's beginning,
But the Yankees keep on winning.
When Torre calls 'Mo, it's over you know,
So, let's play ball!

I'm Talkin' baseball!
Bernie, Mike, and Jeter.
Yankees baseball!
The Rocket throws the heater!
Sheffield and Giambi have the sticks,
Andy and El Duque do the trick.
Like The Bambino! The Clipper, and the Mick.

The Bambino! The Clipper, and The Mick.

Yankees' baseball,
The Clipper, and The Mick.

The Subway Series,
It's baseball in New York.

Yankees baseball…

Terry Cashman - Talkin' Yankees Baseball

"Sweet Caroline" è una canzone molto popolare che viene suonata e cantata in molti eventi sportivi. Dal 1997 è diventata una tradizione del Fenway Park di Boston e viene diffusa alla metà dell'ottavo inning di ogni partita della stagione.

"Sweet Caroline"

Single by Neil Diamond (1969)

Where it began
I cant begin to knowin
But then I know its growin strongWas in the spring
And spring became the summer
Whod have believed youd come alongHands, touchin hands
Reachin out
Touchin me
Touchin youSweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
To believe they never wouldBut now i
Look at the night
And it dont seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurtin runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when Im with youWarm, touchin warm
Reachin out
Touchin me
Touchin meSweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh, no, noSweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
I believed they never could
Sweet caroline

Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

"Tessie" è sia l'inno ufficiale dei Red Sox che il titolo della canzone dei Dropkick Murphys. L'originale "Tessie" è del 1902 ed è tratta dal musical di Broadway "The Silver Slipper". La canzone più recente, scritta nel 2004, racconta come i fans bostoniani chiamati "Royal Rooters" cantando l'originale "Tessie" aiutarono l'allora squadra dei Boston Americans (Red Sox) a vincere le prime World Series nel 1903. Il nome Tessie è esso stesso un diminutivo usato anche per diversi altri nomi, tra cui Esther, Tess e Theresa.

Tessie

by Dropkick Murphys (2004)

Tessie is the Royal Rooters rally cry
Tessie is the tune they always sung
Tessie echoed April through October nights
After serenading Stahl, Dinneen and Young
Tessie is a maiden with a sparkling eye
Tessie is a maiden with a love
She doesn't know the meaning of her sight
She's got a comment full of loveAnd sometimes when the game is on the line
Tessie always carried them away
Up the road from "Third Base" to Huntington
The boys will always sing and swayTwo! Three! Four!Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only onlyThe Rooters showed up at the grounds one day
They found their seats had all been sold
McGreevey led the charge into the park
Stormed the gates and put the game on hold
The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Boston's tenth man could not be wrong
Up from "Third Base" to Huntington
They'd sing another victory songTwo! Three! Four!Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only onlyThe Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Boston's tenth man could not be wrong
Up from "Third Base" to Huntington
They'd sing another victory songTwo! Three! Four!Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Boston, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox, you are the only only only

Dropkick Murphys - Tessie

Questa canzone è stata originariamente registrata per l'album "David Cook", del cantante statunitense David Roland Cook che il 21 maggio 2008 ha vinto la settima stagione di American Idol. La ESPN l'ha utilizzata per gli highlight delle World Series del 2009.

One Second To Change Your Life

by Zac Maloy, David Cook (2008)

A hundred signs choices at every turn
hours stacking up with time to burn
this road will keep on going it only stops for you
it's up to you so make a move
it only takes one second to change your life
everything can turn
when you believe you lie and take turns tonight
one second to change your mind
finally breathe the air you've held inside
one second to change your life
million skies and all of them are fake
behind your eyes you got it made
every guess is young at heart but I've been right where you are
it's the only shape take your own today
it only takes one second to change your life
everything can turn when your believe your lie
and take turns tonight
one second to change your mind
finally breathe the air that you've held inside
one second to change your life
one second to change your life
one second just stand and stare
fingers crossed for the other side
when you cant stop moving with the other flying kind
it only takes one second to change your life
when you believe your lie and take turns tonight
one second to change your mind
finally breathe the air you've held inside
one second's too long
it only takes one second to change your life
it only takes one second to change your life
one second to change your mind
finally breathe the air you've held inside
one second to save your life

Zac Maloy, David Cook - One Second To Change Your Life

Una prima versione della canzone era apparsa nel film Il laureato (1967) e nella relativa colonna sonora (1968); la versione definitiva, con il testo completo, fu pubblicata nell'album Bookends (1968). Uscita come singolo nel 1968, Mrs. Robinson salì al primo posto della classifica statunitense Billboard Hot 100; per Simon & Garfunkel fu il secondo "numero uno" dopo The Sound of Silence. La canzone ha vinto nel 1969 il Grammy Award nella categoria Record of the Year. Nella canzone viene espressamente chiamato in causa Joe DiMaggio. A Paul Simon, fan di Mickey Mantle, gli chiesero, durante il The Dick Cavett Show, perché non aveva menzionato Mantle nella canzone invece di DiMaggio. Simon rispose: "Si tratta di sillabe, Dick. Si tratta di quante battute ci sono". DiMaggio inizialmente si lamentò per quel "dove sei finito .....", ma ben presto lasciò cadere le denunce, dopo un cordiale incontro con Paul Simon, che gli spiegò il significato della strofa. Al New York Times, nel marzo del 1999, poco dopo la morte di DiMaggio, Simon parlò di quell'incontro e spiegò che "la frase era intesa come un sincero omaggio alla statura eroica e per nulla pretenziosa di DiMaggio, in un momento in cui la cultura popolare ingrandiva e distorceva i nostri eroi". Simon inoltre rifletteva: "In questi giorni di trasgressioni Presidenziali e le prime scuse nelle interviste su questioni sessuali private, noi piangiamo Joe DiMaggio e la perdita della sua grazia e della dignità, il suo forte senso della vita privata, la sua fedeltà alla memoria della moglie e la forza del suo silenzio". Simon successivamente eseguì "Mrs. Robinson", allo Yankee Stadium in onore a DiMaggio nel mese di aprile dello stesso anno.

Dove sei finito Joe Di Maggio
Una nazione volge i suoi sguardi solitari a te
Che cos’è che hai detto Mrs Robinson
Il grande Joe ha lasciato e se ne è andato
(Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey)

Mrs. Robinson

by Paul Simon (1968)

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).

We'd like to know
A little bit about you
For our files.
We'd like to help you learn
To help yourself.
Look around you. All you see
Are sympathetic eyes.
Stroll around the grounds
Until you feel at home.

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).

Hide it in a hiding place
Where no one ever goes.
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes.
It's a little secret,
Just the Robinsons' affair.
Most of all, you've got to hide it
from the kids.

Coo coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo wo wo).
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson,
Heaven holds a place for those who pray (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).

Sitting on a sofa
On a Sunday afternoon,
Going to the candidates' debate,
Laugh about it,
Shout about it,
When you've got to choose,
Every way you look at it, you lose.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you (Woo woo woo).
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
"Joltin' Joe has left and gone away" (Hey hey hey, hey hey hey).

Paul Simon - Mrs. Robinson

Quando nel 1967 morì Woody Guthrie lasciò dietro di sé migliaia di testi non registrati annotati su quaderni o su frammenti di carta vaganti, tra cui questo inno non datato allo stesso Yankee Clipper. Nel 2000, appena un anno dopo la morte di DiMaggio, Billy Bragg e la band Wilco accompagnarono le parole al clangore di banjo e lo registrarono per "Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2". L'accompagnamento nervoso del banjo e la voce stravagante di Jeff Tweedy completano perfettamente il gioco di parole vivaci di Guthrie, che celebra Joltin's Joe come monumento americano alla pari della Grand Coulee Dam (La diga sul fiume Columbia che è il più grosso impianto di produzione di energia idroelettrica e la più grande struttura in calcestruzzo degli Stati Uniti).

Joe DiMaggio Done It Again

by Billy Bragg & Wilco (2000)

Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Joe DiMaggio's done it again
Clackin' that bat, gone with the wind
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

Some folks thought Big Joe was done
Some just figured Joe was gone
Steps to the platter with a great big grin
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

I'm gonna tell you just the way I feel
Man can't run without his heel
Watch that raggy pill split the wind
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

All three fielders jumped their best
Trying to climb that high board fence
They all growed whiskers on their chin
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

Up along the clouds where the eagles roam
Joe cracked that ball to whine and moan
His buddies all laugh as they trot on in
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

Grandma's home by the radio
On the television watching Joe
She jerks the beard off of Grandpa's chin
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

The puppy dog barked at the pussycat
How does it look from where you sat?
Looks like a cyclone slidin' in
Joe DiMaggio's done it again

Billy Bragg & Wilco - Joe DiMaggio Done It Again

Il narratore di questa commovente canzone del concept album di Ry Cooder, "Chávez Ravine", non è un giocatore di baseball, ma uno dei tanti americani messicani sfollati la cui comunità è stata distrutta quando fu costruito il Dodgers Stadium. Ferma la sua auto vicino al Dodger Stadium per rivivere e ricordare malinconicamente la sua vecchia casa, che si trovava dove ora si trova la terza base. Invece di essere amareggiato, il narratore - cantato dal chitarrista hawaiano James "Bla" Pahinui - abbraccia la franchigia che lo sradicò.

3rd Base, Dodger Stadium

by Ry Cooder (2005)

Mister, you're a baseball man, as anyone can plainly see.
The straightest game in this great land. Take a little tip from me.
I work here nights, parking cars, underneath the moon and stars.
The same ones that we all knew back in 1952.
And if you want to know where a local boy like me is coming from:
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.

2nd base, right over there. I see grandma in her rocking chair.
Watching linens flapping in the breeze, and all the fellows choosing up their teams.
Hand over hand on that Louisville. Crowning the top, king of the hill.
Mound to home, sixty feet. Baseball been very good to me.
And if you want to know where a local boy like me is coming from:
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.

Back around the 76 ball, Johnny Greeneyes had his shoeshine stall.
In the middle of the 1st base line, got my first kiss, Florencia was kind.
Now, if the dozer hadn't taken my yard, you'd see the tree with our initials carved.
So many moments in my memory. Sure was fun, 'cause the game was free.
It was free.

Hey mister, you seem anxious to go. You'll find that seat, in the 7th row
Behind home plate, where we used to meet. When we were young, we had dreams.
Just a place you don't know, up a road you can't go.
Just a thought, laid to rest in my mind, just a time.
If you care to know where I'm gonna go when I hit my last homerun:
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.
3rd base, Dodger Stadium.
Hey, Mister, you are a baseball man.
Yes, I'm a baseball man myself.
Yes, I'm a baseball man, too.
Baseball been very good to me.
Yes, baseball been very good to me.

Ry Cooder - 3rd Base, Dodger Stadium

Of a Revolution, meglio conosciuta come O.A.R., è una band rock americana composta da Marc Roberge (voce, chitarra), Chris Culos (batteria, percussioni), Richard On (chitarra), Benj Gershman (basso), e Jerry DePizzo (sassofono). Tutti i membri della band frequentavano l'Ohio State University ed erano cresciuti a Rockville, nel Maryland. Il gruppo è diventato un successo tra gli studenti dei college, con molte canzoni relative alla loro vita personale. Nel giugno del 2007 le canzoni della band "Wonderfull Day " e "One Shot" sono state ampiamente utilizzate dalla ESPN nel corso della copertura della Division I 2007 Baseball Tournament e College World Series. Nel giugno 2008 il brano "This Town" è stata ancora utilizzata dalla ESPN nel corso della copertura della NCAA Division I 2008 Baseball Tournament e College World Series. Nel 2010 la loro canzone "Love and Memories" è stata utilizzata dalla ESPN per la copertura della NCAA Division I 2010 Baseball Tournament e College World Series.

Wonderfull Day

O.A.R. (2004)

It was a hot hot day, middle of may,
saw my baby walking my way,
she is the cutest thing ive ever seen,
shes got the black black hair,
little black dress,
and a suit of pair...
little hunny she walked up on me...

-we walk, and we talk,
we dont have no time to stop that day,
that day was a wonderful day, that day ,
was the best dam day that day....

well i lost my mind...
i don lost my mind a thousand times,
and u would too
if u see the things i do,
oo my baby she brings my world down,
and i cannot thanks her enough
for letting me wear the crown,
and one day she walk up to me
and that was the best dam day
i got in my life, in my life, in my life...

-so we walk and we talk ,
we dont have time to stop, that day ,
that day was a wonderful,
that day best dam day that day,
that day, that day, that day,
was, such a wonderful day...

how many of u guys feel
that today is a wonderful day,
lets take that attitude into the rest
of the evening and into tomorow,
we appreciate u guys being here tonight...

OAR - Wonderfull Day

This Town

O.A.R. (2008)

In the morning wake me up
And tell me everything
So I can understand your world
And you can understand my dream
Yeah I could be anywhere
And you could be there with me
But I just want to be a ghost
And see everything

I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on ya'll let's take this town
Let's take this town

It's better that we keep this close
Keep you close to me
Walking under every sky
Over every sea
You can be my modern girl
And I can be the one you found
If we're taking on the world today
I know we got to leave this town

I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on ya'll let's take this town
Let's take this town

Come on ya'll let's take this town
Come on ya'll let's take it down
On our own let's get away
Nothing more left here to see
Come on love make it perfect
More and more I will believe
Like a child I must believe
Come on ya'll make it perfect

This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on ya'll let's take it
Everyone of you in this crowd
Come on ya'll let's take this town

This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let's take this town
This town, this city, this crowd
We're taking on the world today
Come on put them up, and every one of you all around
We can be anyway, take this town
Come on put them up, we're taking on the world today
Take this town, we could be anywhere

OAR - This Town

Love And Memories

O.A.R. (2005)

Lovely, you're always lovely
A vision
You were the one
Now I am stuck inside a memory
You forgot about our destiny
You buried me
Didn't you?
Didn't you?

Love me faster than the devil
Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water
Drowning deep inside your sound

You're always floating
A vapor
That I couldn't see
Here I am stuck inside a yesterday
Everything has given way
You fell from me
Didn't you?
Didn't you?

Love me faster than the devil
Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water
Drowning deep inside your sound
Love me faster than the devil
Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water
Drown in love and memories

Maybe I am a crowded mind
I watch your eyes glaze over
Stared down at the floor
You were amazing to me
I was amazing to you
But here we go again

Didn't you
Love me faster than the devil
Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water
Drowning deep inside your sound
Love me faster than the devil
Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water
Drown in love and memories

OAR - Love And Memories

Eddie Vedder vocalist dei Pearl Jam - e fan dei Cubs da sempre - ha scritto una canzone per il suo amato ballclub su richiesta del leggendario giocatore dei Cubs, Ernie Banks. In due notti Eddie scrisse la canzone. Il risultato è "All the Way". Il tributo di un inossidabile fan il cui ritornello dice: ''i nostri eroi indossano le strisce, i nostri eroi in blue, dateci la possibilità di sentirci anche noi come degli eroi vinceremo per sempre, e se dovessimo perdere, sappiamo... che un giorno arriveremo fino in fondo, hey... un giorno arriveremo fino in fondo''. "Quando sei nato a Chicago tu sei benedetto e guarisci la prima volta che entri al Wrigley Field", scrisse Vedder. La canzone anticipò la corsa ai playoff dei Cubs nel 2008. Viene passata costantemente sulle stazioni radio di Chicago e nei bar del Wrigleyville.

All the Way by Eddie Vedder (2008)

Don't let anyone say, that it's just a game.
for I've seen other teams, and it's never the same.
when you're born in Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed,
the first time you walk, into Wrigley Field.

our heroes wear pinstripes, heroes in blue,
give us the chance to feel like heroes too.
forever we'll win, and if we should lose, we know...
someday we'll go all the way, hey...someday we'll go all the way.

one with The Cubs, with The Cubs we're in love.
yeah, hold our head high as the underdogs.
we are not fairweather but foulweather fans.
like brothers in arms in the streets and the stands.

there's magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard.
the same one I stared at as a kid keeping score.
a world full of greed, I could never want more.
and someday we'll go all the way, hey...someday we'll go all the way.

and here's to the men and the legends we know.
teaching us faith and giving us hope.
united we stand and united we'll fall,
down to our knees the day we win it all.

yeah Ernie Banks said "let's play two!"
but did he mean 200 years?
in the same ballpark, the diamond, our jewel,
the home of our joy and our tears

keeping traditions and wishes made new,
the place where our grandfathers, fathers they grew.
a spiritual feeling, if I ever knew.
and if you ain't been, I am sorry for you.

when the day comes, with that last winning run
and I'm crying and covered in beer.
I'll look to the sky and know I was right.
someday we'll go all the way, hey...someday we'll go all the way.

Eddie Vedder - All the Way

Lunedì 30 maggio 2011 la MLB ha presentato in anteprima il nuovo video "Back Down South" della band Kings of Leon arricchito da alcuni highlights di baseball. I Kings of Leon sono un gruppo rock americano formatosi a Franklin (Tennessee), nel 1999, composto dai fratelli Anthony Caleb Followill (voce, chitarra ritmica), Ivan Nathan Followill (batteria, percussioni) e Michael Jared Followill (basso) insieme al loro cugino Cameron Matthew Followill (chitarra solista). I Kings Of Leon raccontano con “Back Down South”, terzo singolo estratto dal loro ultimo fortunatissimo album, la vita dei giovani teenagers del Tennessee. Qualche marachella che serve a dare quel pizzico di trasgressione, condita a tanta purezza e spensieratezza, permette alla clip di cogliere in pieno il tipico lifestyle dell’America meridionale, quella caratterizzata da campi di grano, casette di legno e cervi imbalsamati ed appesi sui muri e la partita di baseball della squadra locale. Il tutto serve a conferire all’atmosfera molta nostalgia, la stessa nostalgia che la musica richiama: molto country e una bella dose di violini sono in grado di rispecchiare il tradizionale mood di quei posti tanto affascinanti quanto melanconici. La programmazione su ESPN durerà fino al 6 giugno.

Back Down South

by Kings of Leon (2010)

Come on down and dance,
If you get the chance,
We’re gonna spit on the rival.
All I wanna know,
Is how far you wanna go,
Fighting for survival.
Underneath the stars,
Where we parked the cars,
Ain’t showing signs of stopping.
Pretty little girls,
Naked to their curls,
Ready to lay in the coffin.
If you wanna go,
I’m gonna go,
I gotta fire burning.
Come on take my hand,
Hope you see your man,
Baby’s gonna be a big one.
Baby’s gonna be a big one.
If you see the lights,
and we hear the fights,
It’s gonna be a stunner.
I’ve got something here,
If you give me one more beer,
I’m gonna call a runner.
I don’t want to say,
What I have to say,
If I’m a’ kicking off now.
If you wanna go,
I’m gonna go,
I’m going back down south now.
I’m going back down south now.
I’m going back down south now.
If you wanna go,
I’m going back down south now.
Go on take my hand,
I’m going back down south now.
Wait ’til you see the light,
And we hear those fights,
I’m going back down south now.
I don’t want to know,
How far you wanna go,
I’m going back down south now.
I’m going back down south now.
I’m going back down south now.
I’m going back down south now.
Oh, yeah.
I’m going back down south now.

Kings of Leon - Back Down South

"Go Cubs Go", "Go, Cubs, Go" o "Go, Cubs, Go!" è una canzone scritta da Steve Goodman nel 1984, quando i Cubs vinsero la National League East Division Championship e poi persero le National League Championship Series. In quella stagione (e per molte altre) divenne la canzone ufficiale della squadra. La prima volta andò in onda su WGN nell’opening day e in tutte le partite della stagione. Nella stesso anno, Goodman perse la sua battaglia durata sedici anni contro la leucemia, quattro giorni prima che i Cubs conquistassero il titolo di division. Nei tre anni successivi, furono vendute 60000 copie del brano e il ricavato andò in beneficenza. Alcuni giocatori dei Cubs del 1984 parteciparono alla registrazione del disco cantando il ritornello. Oggi come ieri dopo ogni vittoria al Wrigley Field tutti i tifosi dei Cubs si alzano in piedi e cantano la canzone dal riff orecchiabile e un versetto è particolarmente amato dai fans che è quello che comprende "So stamp your feet and clap your hands" (Quindi batti i piedi e batti le mani).

Go, Cubs, Go!

by Steve Goodman (1984)

Baseball season's underway
Well you better get ready for a brand new day
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

They're singing
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

They got the power, they got the speed
To be the best in the National League
Well this is the year and the Cubs are real
So come on down to Wrigley Field

We're singing now
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.

Baseball time is here again
You can catch it all on WGN
So stamp your feet and clap your hands
Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans

Hear 'em singing now
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago

Steve Goodman - Go, Cubs, Go!

La squadra dei Pittsburgh Pirates utilizzò We Are Family delle Sister Ledge per la loro canzone a tema nel 1979. Guidati da Willie "Pops" Stargell, recuperarono da un deficit di 3 gare a 1 e sconfissero i Baltimora Orioles nelle World Series del 1979. La canzone venne costantemente trasmessa sulle stazioni radio con il progredire della stagione dei Pittsburgh Pirates. La squadra, che era rappresentata da giocatori di diversa estrazione si unì in una sola. Le parole "The Family" furono scritte sopra il loro dugout durante le World Series. Le Sister Sledge erano un gruppo vocale formato da 4 sorelle, il cui cognome in realtà era Sledge. Erano una band di supporto per vari artisti prima di lanciare questo album per la loro prima volta. Questo fu il loro più grande successo, il loro primo singolo, "He's The Greatest Dancer", fu anche nella Top-10 hit negli Stati Uniti. Fu scritta e prodotta da Bernard Edwards e Nile Rodgers. La loro band Chic era nelle hit al momento con "Le Freak". Rodgers e Edwards ebbero l'idea del titolo della canzone al loro primo incontro con le sorelle. Il riff di chitarra si basa su una canzone intitolata "Do What You Wanna Do" dei Children Of God. Questo diventò un inno per i gruppi di donne, così come per chiunque altro con un messaggio di unità.

We Are Family by Sister Sledge (1979)

We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
evryone can see we're together
as we walk on by.
And...
And we fly just like birds of a feather.
I won't tell you lie.
All...
All of the people around us they say:
"Can they be that close?"
Just let me state for the record.
We're givin' love in a family dose.
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
Living life is fun and we've just begun
to get our share
of this world's delights.
High...
High hopes we have for the future
and our goal's in sight.
No...
No, we don't get depressed.
Here's what we call our golden rule.
Have faith in you and the things you do.
You won't go wrong, oh no.
This is our family jewel.
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
We are family.
I got all my sisters with me.
We are family.
Come on everybody, sing!
Come on everybody, sing!

Sister Sledge - We Are Family

Il rapper Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) conosciuto anche come Professor Macklemore, fan dei Seattle Mariners, ha dedicato la sua canzone "My Oh My" al giornalista sportivo e Hall of Famer Dave Niehaus, morto nel novembre del 2010, che ebbe una grandissima influenza su di lui e su tutta la città di Seattle. Il testo rievoca i tempi in cui ascoltava con il padre le partite alla radio dei Mariners al King Dome, teatro della stagione dei Mariners del 1995 in cui vinsero il pennant dell'AL, con i suoi giocatori preferiti come Ken Griffey Jr., Joey Cora ed Edgar Martinez, commentate dal grande Dave Niehaus. Macklemore assieme al suo producer Ryan Lewis cantò "My Oh My" davanti a 50000 fans che avevano partecipato all'openig day dei Mariners nel 2011 al Safeco Field. Ryan Lewis nell'occasione aveva annunciato che tutti i proventi della canzone sarebbero andati a beneficio del Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.

"My Oh My"

Macklemore with Ryan Lewis (2012)

I used to sit with my dad in the garage
That sawdust that pine sol and the moss
Around every spring when the winter thaw
We'd huddle around the radio twist the broken knob
710 AM no KJR Dave Niehaus voice would echo throughout the yard
Couldn't have been older than 10
But to me and my friends
The voice on the other end might as well have been God's
1995 the division series
Edgars up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning got the whole town listening,
Swung on and belted the words that started, Joey Cora rounds third
Here comes Griffey the throw to the plate's not in time
My oh my the Mariners win it
Yes, fire works they lit up ceiling in the king dome
We had just made history.

[Dave Niehaus announcing:]
And swung, Lined down the left field line for a base hit!
Here comes Joey! Here comes Junior to third base!
They're gonna wave him in! the throw to the plate will be'.
Late! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship!
I don't believe it! It just continues! MY OH MY!

Laces woven barley holdin' that stitch
The creases are time amongst the grime and the grit
Where the leather he used to pound his fists
To some it's just a mitt, but see that glove was him
Yep, tell me stories on the field with that sun stained brim
Blood under my chin, he taught me how to spit
Sunflower seeds back when me and my crew sun burnt arms
Big league chew, yeah we were like the sand lot after dinner
After practice we listen to the M's in the kitchen
And if mom wasn't trippin' come on dad please I swear just one more inning
Voice went pump pump through the system break out the Rye bread it's grand salami time
My oh My another victory yes, my city my city.
Childhood my life watchin' Griffey right under those lights

Under that light rain gleaming in that night came, can't stop now
Keep moving no break pads came here to prove a point, live my life on the field
Make history in between the base path
And compete against the fear that is in me that's my only barrier and I swear I'm going to break that
From the mud the cleats that we drug threw the feet this is that moment and you cannot take it back
I don't really collect cards anymore, just a box and some old card board
Memories embedded in the dust, in the fighters that age just like us livin' some where off in the drawer
This is what you make of it yeah we play to win
Live it like we're under the lights of the stadium fight until the day that God decided to wave us in,
Right until he waves us in
It's my city my city childhood my life that's right right under those lights
My city my city childhood that's right Niehaus
My oh My come on, my city my city childhood my life that's right under those lights
It's my city my city childhood my life Niehaus My oh My Rest in peace.

Macklemore - My Oh My

Quando Jim Nuzzo scrisse "Subway", riportò nel testo le parole che le generazioni passate avevano usato a lungo. Parole che riportavano i ricordi di New York contro New York a ottobre: solo che le squadre erano composte da Giants e Yankees invece che Mets e Yankees. La prima canzone di questo album commovente, "The Game is Over", è presente qui perché ritengo che dovrebbe essere ampiamente supportata, ascoltata dai fans e considerata un classico moderno. Questa canzone mi ha fatto sorridere mentre la ascoltavo. Adoro i momenti della storia che menziona e puoi sentire la nostalgia che trasuda in ogni battito. C'è un suono così grandioso e completo in questa canzone, e mi ricorda perché adoro questo gioco così tanto. Questa melodia divenne particolarmente popolare durante le World Series 2000 (le famose Subway Series), quando i Mets e gli Yankees rappresentarono le rispettive League in un match-up crosstown.

Subway

by Jim Nuzzo (1998)

I remember my Daddy talkin' 'bout the days gone by
When he started talkin' baseball I could see a look in his eye
I could reach out and I almost could touch
His cherished memories I had longed for so much
But he told me it could never happen againDaddy raved about the Yankee Clipper, the things that he'd done
Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds, Jackie Robinson
Bobby Thomson's shot heard 'round the world
And the perfect game Don Larsen hurled
But he told me it could never happen againChorus:I'm gettin' on a subway tonight
I'm headin' to the stadium, that 's right
The city's gonna rock tonight as we make history
Can't you smell the hot dogs, taste the beer,
Take me back in time to yesteryear
I wouldn't trade this ticket for the world oh not today
I'm gettin' on the subwayDaddy tell me 'bout the "Boys of Summer", the rivalries
And the ballyard in the Southern Bronx, October dynasties
But then the saddest days remembered by most
When the other teams left for the coast
And they thought that it could never happen againRepeat ChorusDaddy, Daddy what you doin' tonight
I got an extra ticket, just say alright
Cause we both know that this may never happen, never happen again

Jim Nuzzo - Subway

Cantante americana dallo stile spiritoso ed espressivo, Jane Morgan raggiunse una straordinaria fama in Francia nei primi anni '50, esibendosi in locali notturni e cabaret a Parigi. Cosa fece per attirare il pubblico del suo paese d'origine? Registrò questo singolo ironico sul fatto di uscire con un uomo bello e ricco il cui unico difetto era la sua ossessione per il National Pastime. Le vedove di baseball in tutta l'America potrebbero condividere la sua affermazione che questo tipo di diamante non è il migliore amico di una ragazza, mentre, senza dubbio, gli ascoltatori maschi sognano una donna che possa distinguere Stan Musial da Ted Williams.

Baseball, Baseball

by Jane Morgan with George Barnes Quintet [1954]

Jane Morgan with George Barnes Quintet - “Baseball, Baseball”

Il baseball si è rivelato un argomento utile per i musicisti pop, in quanto ha permesso loro di cantare argomenti tabù come il sesso e la razza senza essere troppo letterali. Questa canzone è stata scritta da Don Raye e Gene DePaul e registrata da Nat King Cole nel 1961. Gli autori cercarono di usare il linguaggio della partita di baseball per raccontare storie bibliche, ma si sforzarono di estendere il concetto a soli due minuti e mezzo. Non tra i migliori successi di Nat King Cole , "The First Baseball Game" include alcuni giochi di parole come "Golia è stato messo strikeout da Davide, una valida è stato fatta da Caino su Abele e il figlio prodigo ha fatto un fuoricampo".

The First Baseball Game

by Nat King Cole [1961]

Nat King Cole - The First Baseball Game

Baseball Project è un supergruppo di cantanti e autori, uniti dalla passione per il baseball, composto da Peter Buck e Mike Mills dei R.E.M., Scott McCaughey dei Young Fresh Fellows e Minus 5, Steve Wynn dei Dream Syndicate e sua moglie Linda Pitmon. Hanno composto 4 album che commemorano il passatempo nazionale con testi intelligenti e ritornelli super accattivanti. Nel loro terzo album pubblicato nel 2014, "3rd", la band si rivolge a questo straordinario Comitato dei Veterani, sostenendo l'inclusione di Dale Murphy nella Hall of Fame. È difficile dire quale sia più persuasivo: le statistiche impressionanti dell'ex outfielder di Atlanta o il coro altissimo della band.

To the Veterans Committee

by Baseball Project (2014)

Submitted here for your consideration
A man who needs no qualifications
Character, ability, sportsmanship, integrity
These are the things that you require
And he’s got them in spades

Two MVP’s and five gold gloves
Atlanta fans’ undying love
And though he heard the voices like the rest
He stayed out of the vipers’ nest
He chose to play with just his best
And that’s why I feel good to say

I want to see Dale Murphy in the Hall of Fame
I want to see Dale Murphy in the Hall of Fame

Forget about the liars
All the Sosas and McGuires

I want to see Dale Murphy in the Hall of Fame

They say 400 is the magic number
But Murphy hit 398
You can’t tell me that isn’t great
And that’s why I don’t want to wait

The Baseball Project - "To The Veteran's Committee"

Il manager dei Texas Rangers, Ron Washington, è una fonte di citazioni di baseball rigorosamente fatalistiche e ostinatamente sgrammaticate, tra cui i classici "Lui fa quello che fa" e "Questo è il modo in cui va il baseball". Quest'ultimo è diventato virale nel 2010, quando Washington ha portato la squadra alle World Series, ispirando t-shirt di contrabbando e un dolce, semplice singolo di Merle Haggard. La canzone è una modifica della hit "That's the Way Love Goes" di Merle Haggard vincitrice del Grammy Award del 1983, cambiata in omaggio alla frase preferita di Washington. La canzone è stata un'idea del co-presidente dei Texas Rangers Bob Simpson, e il testo è stato scritto da Simpson e sua moglie, Janice, con l'assistenza di Jim Hodges e Jackson Yandell di Fort Worth. La canzone è ventilata come un giorno di primavera a Surprise, Arizona, ma rivela qualcosa di profondo sul fascino del gioco, che è definito dai suoi strani colpi di fortuna e dalla sua audacia atletica. La parte dei proventi dei download andrà alla Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.

That's the Way Baseball Go

by Merle Haggard (2011)

Merle Haggard - That's the Way Baseball Go

La canzone Night Game si trovata nell'album “Still Crazy After All These Years”. Il titolo della canzone, “Night Game”, funge da metafora per la natura effimera delle relazioni. Rappresenta l'oscurità e l'incertezza che spesso accompagnano le questioni di cuore. Proprio come un gioco giocato nell’oscurità può essere emozionante e imprevedibile, l’amore può essere pieno di sorprese e profondità nascoste. La canzone descrive vividamente un momento cruciale in una partita di baseball in cui il lanciatore muore inaspettatamente, lasciando nello stadio un'atmosfera inquietante e cupa. La morte del pitcher simboleggia la natura imprevedibile della vita e serve a ricordare che nessuno è immune dalla mortalità. La posa degli spikes del lanciatore sul monte e l'uniforme strappata simboleggiano la sua assenza e il vuoto lasciato dalla sua scomparsa. Il suo numero lasciato a terra indica l'impatto duraturo che ha avuto sul gioco e i ricordi che lascia dietro di sé. La ripetizione di "c'erano tre uomini in meno e la stagione persa" riflette un senso di sconfitta e di fine, forse suggerendo che le speranze di successo della squadra sono svanite. Il telone steso sul diamante per il gelo invernale indica inoltre la fine della stagione, poiché la durezza dell'inverno copre il campo, simboleggiando il periodo dormiente prima dell'inizio di una nuova stagione. Nel complesso, "Night Game" trasmette una riflessione malinconica sulla fragilità della vita, sull'inevitabilità del tempo che passa e sui momenti agrodolci vissuti nel regno dello sport e nell'ambito più ampio dell'esistenza.

Night Game

by Paul Simon (1975)

There were two men down
And the score was tied
In the bottom of the eight
When the pitcher died

And they laid his spikes
On the pitcher’s mound
And his uniform was torn
And his number was left on the ground

Then the night turned cold
Colder than the moon
The stars were white as bones
The stadium was old
Older than the screams
Older than these teams

There were three men down
And the season lost
And the tarpaulin was rolled
Upon the winter frost

Night Game