Baseball Music
Songs, anthems, recordings, and poetry celebrating the game.
National Anthem at Ballparks
- The Star Spangled Banner HistoryFirst played at baseball game in 1862, regular at World Series since 1918
- 1918 World SeriesGame 1 at Comiskey Park, military band played during 7th-inning stretch
- Jose Feliciano (1968)Slow, bluesy rendition before Game 5 sparked controversy
- Robert MerrillSang at 7 World Series games, all at Yankee Stadium
- Roseanne Barr (1990)Infamous Padres performance with gestures drew presidential criticism
- Yale Whiffenpoofs (1989)Intermixed with "America the Beautiful" at Game 1
God Bless America
- 7th-Inning Stretch TraditionAdded after September 11, 2001, particularly on special occasions
- Extended BreakPlayers remain on field during song, warm-up begins after
- Kate SmithIconic recording played at Philadelphia Flyers and baseball games
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
- 7th-Inning StretchTraditionally sung during the middle of the 7th inning
- Harry CarayMade it famous with Cubs broadcasts at Wrigley Field
- Jack Norworth & Albert Von TilzerWrote the song in 1908, neither had attended a game
Team Theme Songs
- "We Are Family"Sister Sledge (1979) - Pittsburgh Pirates theme, 1979 World Series champs
- "Go Get 'Em Tigers"Detroit Tigers fight song
- "Bless You Boys"Detroit Tigers theme song from 1984 championship season
- "New York, New York"Frank Sinatra - Yankees tradition after home games
- "Sweet Caroline"Neil Diamond - Boston Red Sox 8th-inning tradition
- "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"John Denver - Baltimore Orioles 7th-inning stretch
- "Chelsea Dagger"The Fratellis - Chicago White Sox home run song
- "Roll Out the Barrel"Milwaukee Brewers tradition
Songs & Bands About Baseball
- "Centerfield" - John Fogerty1985 classic, mentions DiMaggio, Mays, Cobb; honored by Baseball Hall of Fame
- "Glory Days" - Bruce Springsteen1985 hit about reminiscing on baseball past
- "Ty Cobb" - Soundgarden1997 track featuring mandolin, named after the Georgia Peach
- "The Boys of Summer" - Don Henley1985 hit, title taken from Roger Kahn's 1972 book about the Dodgers
- Heywood BanksComedian with baseball-themed comedy songs
- Jeff DanielsActor and musician, wrote "The Lifelong Tiger Fan Blues"
- John FogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival frontman, avid baseball fan
- "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" - Meat LoafIncludes Phil Rizzuto's baseball play-by-play
- "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball" - Count Basie1949 jazz tribute
- "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" - Les Brown1941 big band tribute
Players Who Recorded
- Denny McLainTigers pitcher, 30-game winner, recorded as organist
- Bernie WilliamsYankees CF, Grammy-nominated guitarist, performed with NY Philharmonic
- Ken Griffey Jr.Rapped on "The Way I Swing" in 1992
- Mike PiazzaCredited with "death growls" on Black Label Society track
- Dick AllenLead singer for The Ebonistics doo-wop group
- Deion SandersReleased album "Prime Time" in mid-1990s
- Barry ZitoReleased country EP "No Secrets" in 2017, has Nashville studio
- Bronson ArroyoReleased two albums: "Covering the Bases" (2005) and "Some Might Say"
- Adam WainwrightCountry album "Hey Y'all" (April 2025)
- Yoán MoncadaReleased Latin pop song "Desastre Personal" in 2021
- Jose IglesiasReleased "OMG" in June 2025, Mets' 2025 NLCS soundtrack
Broadcasters & Recordings
- Voices of the GameBaseball Hall of Fame - History of broadcasting
- Ernie HarwellTigers broadcaster, wrote lyrics for 60+ songs including Hank Aaron tribute
- Harry CarayCubs broadcaster, made "Take Me Out" famous
- Vin ScullyDodgers broadcaster for 67 years, poetic calls
- Mel AllenYankees broadcaster, "How about that!"
- Red BarberDodgers and Yankees broadcaster, "The Ol' Redhead"
- Famous CatchphrasesCollection of iconic broadcaster calls
- Ford C. Frick Award WinnersHall of Fame broadcasters
Baseball Poetry
- "Casey at the Bat"Ernest Lawrence Thayer (1888) - The most famous baseball poem, published in San Francisco Examiner
- "There is no joy in Mudville"Mighty Casey has struck out
- "Lineup for Yesterday"Ogden Nash - ABCs of baseball greats
- "Analysis of Baseball"May Swenson - Playful poem about the game
- "Baseball"Robert Francis - About the geometry of the game
Famous Walk-Up Songs
- Mariano Rivera"Enter Sandman" - Metallica
- Derek Jeter"This is How We Do It" - Montell Jordan, later "Lose Yourself" - Eminem
- David Ortiz"Big Poppa" - The Notorious B.I.G.
- Trevor Hoffman"Hells Bells" - AC/DC
- Aaron Judge"Boogie Nights" - Heatwave
- Johnny Damon"Centerfield" - John Fogerty
- Justin Verlander"'Til I Collapse" - Eminem
- Anthony Rizzo"Bad Blood" - Taylor Swift