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"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is an early- 20th century Tin Pan Alley song which became the unofficial anthem of baseball. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a baseball game, in spite of the technicality that it is written from the perspective of someone not currently watching a game. Fans are encouraged to sing along.
The words were written in 1908 by Jack Norworth, otherwise best-known for writing " Shine On Harvest Moon ". While riding a subway train, he was inspired by a sign that said "Baseball Today — Polo Grounds". After he wrote the lyrics, it was set to music by Albert Von Tilzer, although neither of them had ever seen a baseball game before. The song was first sung by Norworth's wife Nora Bayes, then further popularized by various vaudeville acts.
The verses to the song are almost never heard, but the chorus is commonly held to be the third most-often-played song in the United States, after " The Star-Spangled Banner" and " Happy Birthday".
| 1908 Version Katie Casey was baseball mad, |
1927 Version Nelly Kelly loved baseball games, |
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| Katie Casey saw all the games, Knew the players by their first names. |
Nelly Kelly was sure some fan, She would root just like any man, |
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[repeat Chorus] |
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Among those particularly associated with the song is Chicago CubsBaseball teams The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are in the Central Division of the National League. Founded 1870, as an independent professional club. Joined the National Association in 1871. Became a char announcerAn Announcer is a voice actor who works in television, radio and film, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in television commercials or a guest on a talk show. Announcers usually read prepare Harry CarayHarry Caray ( March 1, 1914 — February 18, 1998), born Harry Christopher Carabina in St. Louis, Missouri, was a beloved TV and radio broadcaster for three Major League Baseball teams, lastly the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Prior to becoming the C, who led the singing at games in Wrigley FieldWrigley Field (1060 W. Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois) is a sports stadium which was built in 1914 for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales. Original named Weeghman Park for the owner, Charlie Weeghman, the field became the home from 1981Events January-February January Sarawak Chamber found January 1 Greece enters the EEC January 1 Palau becomes self-governing January 4 Sheffield police arrests Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper January 16 Protestant gunmen shoot and wound Bernadette D through 1997.
In most Major League ballparks, the line "Let me root, root, root for the home team", "the home team" is replaced by the actual name of the home team. For example, in San Francisco, it is sung "Let me root, root, root for the Giants".