Earlier today (29 September), the Great Britain baseball team beat Germany to reach the final of the European Championships - a great run for a country still building baseball as a sporting option.
Elsewhere, Major League Baseball is entering its final few games of the 'regular' season, an exhausting 6-month, 162 game run - before it enters into the post-season of exciting play-offs and ultimately, the World Series.
So, this playlist honours some songs that are, or have been, used by various MLB teams at games over the years. Some may well surprise you.
But first, as an extra gift, we will start with the ultimate baseball tune, beloved by all baseball fans young and old, and song at almost every major ballpark during the so-called 'seventh inning stretch' (the pause between the top and the bottom of the seventh inning). It is Take Me Out To The Ballgame, a song written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer, neither of whom, ironically, actually attended a ball game until decades after they had written the tune. There have been many versions over the years, but two are probably more famous; the one by Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly for the 1949 film with the same name - and the version by legendary baseball broadcaster Harry Caray.
He would sing the song in his booth during the 7th inning stretch - and while commentating for the Chicago White Sox in 1976, someone decided to secretly put a microphone into his booth so the whole stadium could hear him singing it. The rest is baseball history - and it is now a key part of baseball tradition at many clubs.
1. Neil Diamond: Sweet Caroline
This has been used by the Boston Red Sox for the last two decades. The song was written by Diamond in 1969 about Caroline Kennedy (JFKs daughter, who was 11 at the time). The Music Director for the Red Sox decided to play it in the 7th inning at a game in 2002 - and everyone sang along. It is become a club theme tune ever since. While Diamond is not from Boston himself, he did show up at Fenway Park and perform the song on the opening night of the 2010 season.
(Live at Fenway Park - April 2013. It's a bit weird because you can hear his voice on the
backing track as well as the live bit - but worth it for the crowd singalong)
2. Frank Sinatra: High Hopes
This song has been used by the Philadelphia Phillies for many a year. The music was by James van Heusen, with lyrics by Sammy Kahn, and old blue eyes recorded his version in 1959. Phillies broadcasting legend Harry Kalas was famous for his love of the song, singing it at team celebrations, like the 1993 National League Championship and the 2008 World Series. Since he died in 2009, the Phillies play a video of him singing it at every game.
(From the film A Hole In The Head - with child actor Eddie Hodges)
3. Tony Bennett: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
This one is for the San Francisco Giants, and indeed the whole city of San Francisco who have pretty much adopted it as their theme. It's a song about loving the town you're from, and although it might seem a bit of a slow burner for a sports stadium, it seems to actually fit the bill perfectly. It is Bennett's signature song and the Giants victory song. Bennett has performed it at Giants games several times, including during the 2002 and 2010 World Series.
(Live on MTV Unplugged)
4. Jimi Hendrix: Fire
This is an interesting choice, although of course, Hendrix was a native of Seattle, so it perhaps isn't so odd that the Mariners use it as their victory theme. What is quite amusing is that it supposedly has sexual overtones, but apparently was actually inspired by a visit Hendrix made to the house of the mum of his British bass player, Noel Redding - in Folkestone, one new year's eve. He wanted to get near the fire, but her dog was in the way.
(Live version - and an incredible one at that)
5. The Beatles: Kansas City
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, this is a favourite tune for the Kansas City Royals. They use this blues standard as a postgame song, and have been known to play many of the different versions there are. It was written by Lieber & Stoller in 1952, with versions being recorded by the likes of Little Willie Littlefield, Little Richard, Wilbert Harrison and later on, James Brown. The Beatles played this a lot early in their career, and recorded a version for 1964 album, Beatles For Sale. They also added it to their setlist when they played at the Kansas City Municipal Stadium that year.
(Live - and you can even hear it over the screaming!)
6. Sister Sledge: We Are Family
This became the theme for the Pittsburgh Pirates during their 1979 World Series run. Written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (Chic), it became the second biggest pop song of 1979 in the US. It was chosen by Willie Stargell (Left fielder and 1st baseman) to be played during a June game that was rain delayed, which eventually they would win in a comeback victory - spurring them on to use it for the rest of that season.
(Official music video)
7. Kool & The Gang: Celebration
An obvious choice as a winning song - this has been used by the Oakland Athletics as their victory song since 1981, and was also used by the St Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series. The song itself was a massive hit, and was the lead single from Kool & The Gang's 12th album, Celebrate, in 1980.
(Official music video)
8. Joe Walsh: Rocky Mountain Way
This has been the Colorado Rockies celebration song since 1995. It was written by Eagles and James Gang man, Joe Walsh, after mowing his Colorado yard in the early 70s. Somewhat amusingly, he was also persuaded by ABC network, to re-write the lyrics in 1998 to celebrate Denver Broncos QB John Elway - the result being Rocky Mountain Elway...
(Live version)
9. Prince: Let's Go Crazy
Prince was from Minneapolis - what else were the Minnesota Twins going to use when they win? From his masterpiece, Purple Rain (1984), this is a get up and dance classic.
(Epic live version from 1985)
10. Presidents Of The USA: Cleveland Rocks
Comedian Drew Carey is from Cleveland, and his eponymously titled show that started in 1995 was set there, and used a lot of interesting music - including two versions of this song. It was originally written by Ian Hunter, front man of Mott the Hoople, for a solo record in 1979 (he had done an earlier version called England Rocks, but says Cleveland was always his inspiration). The Presidents Of The USA version was used as shows theme from 1997. It was an obvious choice for a victory song for both the Cleveland Guardians (formerly Indians) and Cavaliers (NBA), but interestingly, not for the Cleveland Browns. As a result of the song, Hunter would be given the keys to the city in 1979.
(Long version of the theme for the Drew Carey Show)
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