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Still Swinging for the Fences
Thursday, May 15, 2008
This year marks the 100th anniversary of that staple of baseball’s seventh-inning stretch, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Tim Wiles, director of research at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, shares the history of a hit song that somehow lost two verses on its way to the stardom in the big leagues. Wiles is co-author of the book "Baseball’s Greatest Hit: The Story of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game.'"
Our blog: John Schaefer on "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Website
"Baseball's Greatest Hit" on Amazon.com
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Mr Wiles is one of 3 authors of the book "Baseball's Greatest Hit: The Story of Take Me Out to the Ball Game". One or more of the authors believes that Bruce Springsteen has recorded a version of this song, but it's actually a parody credited to Bruce Springstone (like Fred Flinstone).
"Baseball's Greatest Hit" explains the Springstone version, recorded by a Springsteen imitator. The song is featured on a CD that accompanies the book.
Do you have Mandy Patankin singing it in Yiddish?
no conversation that concerns nutty bill veeck and harry caray would be complete without acknowledging the lovely nancy faust, queen organist at wrigley (and the old chicago stadium)for so many years. legend has it that caray became more willing to lead the crowd in singing it as his age and beer consumption increased.
makes me mourn the dismissal of a real organ at ballparks all the more–so much better than (often) repetitive pop music and other digital instrumentation there.
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