Today in baseball: Take me out to the ballgame
Today, 111 years ago, the baseball anthem was introduced. Take me out to the ballgame has been the immortal song that is played during every baseball game.
According to the legend, the song was inspired by an advertising sign in the New York subway saying “Baseball Today – Polo Grounds.” The creators of the song, Albert Von Tilzer (music) and Jack Norworth (words) allegedly have never seen a baseball game.
There are two versions of the song: the original one from 1908 and a rewritten version of 1927:
| 1908 version 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:” |
1927 version 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: |
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| 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: |
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Traditionally the song is played during the seventh-inning stretch.