# Baseball-oriented songs for a slide show? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 9, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734 "2012-07-09T21:40:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/1 "2012-07-09T21:40:59Z")
Hi - I’m putting together a “slide show” for my son’s travel baseball team to celebrate the end of the season. This would be shown at an end-of-season party, and given to the kids as a keepsake. The kids are 11 years old and the photos are mainly action shots of them playing, huddling with their coaches, etc. Do you have any recommendations for baseball-themed songs I can use as background music for the presentation? Preferably songs the kids may have heard and that have a fast tempo - I’d like to move through the pictures at a fairly fast pace. Even if you can’t think of recent songs, more 'classical" recommendations are welcome. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/2 "2012-07-09T21:45:13Z")
John Fogerty **Centerfield** ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/3 "2012-07-09T21:45:31Z")
_[Centerfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70I4xRbsT4Q)_-John Fogerty. The video itself is a slideshow/videos of baseball greats. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/4 "2012-07-09T21:46:27Z")
Well, these are so obvious you already thought of them, but… “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” You could also include bits of songs that get played on ballpark organs, like: “The Star Spangled Banner” “The Mexican Hat Dance” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/5 "2012-07-09T21:49:23Z")
There’s also [Talkin’ Baseball by Terry Cashman](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stb.shtml), but I’m guessing kids may not know that one. I’m also moving this thread to The Game Room from IMHO. The baseball fans may have other recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/6 "2012-07-09T21:49:44Z")
A few pop songs tat include verses about baseball: 1. Billy Joel’s “Zanzibar.” 2. Chuck Berry’s “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” "_**Two, three, the count with nobody on He hit a high fly into the stand Round the third he was headed for home He was a brown eyed handsome man. That won the game he was a brown eyed handsome man."**_ 1. Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/7 "2012-07-09T21:50:52Z")
Oh, how about the famed faux-Indian “Tomahawk Chop” chant? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/8 "2012-07-09T21:57:03Z")
> [@](#): > > OK, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here, > Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth, > There’s the windup, and there it is, a line shot up the middle, > Look at him go. This boy can really fly! He’s rounding first and really > turning it on now, he’s not letting up at all, he’s gonna try for > second; the ball is bobbled out in center, and here comes the > throw, and what a throw! He’s gonna slide in head first, here he > comes, he’s out! No, wait, safe-safe at second base, this kid > really makes things happen out there. Batter steps up to the > plate, here’s the pitch-he’s going, and what a jump he’s got, > he’s trying for third, here’s the throw, it’s in the dirt-safe at > third! Holy cow, stolen base! He’s taking a pretty big lead out > there, almost daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher > glances over, winds up, and it’s bunted, bunted down the third > base line, the suicide squeeze is on! Here he comes, squeeze > play, it’s gonna be close, holy cow, I think he’s gonna make it! Meat Loaf, _Paradise By The Dashboard Light_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/9 "2012-07-09T21:58:04Z")
[The Cheap Seats](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGBdKyHc5EA)-Alabama [The Greatest](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K3DI07Ibb4&feature=related)-Kenny Rogers ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/10 "2012-07-10T00:35:59Z")
“Glory Days” - Springsteen “All the Way” - Eddie Vedder “Cubs in Five” - The Mountain Goats “Batter Up!” - St. Lunatics “Tessie” - Dropkick Murphys “Barry Bonds” - Kanye West feat. Lil Wayne “Sure Shot” - The Beastie Boys “Load Up the Bases” - Whiskey Falls “Baseball Song” - Kenny Rogers “A Perfect Day for Baseball” - Jason Siemer “Swing” - Trace Adkins I seem to recall a version of “Casey at the Bat” set to music. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/11 "2012-07-10T03:13:42Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > _[Centerfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70I4xRbsT4Q)_-John Fogerty. _Walk of Life_ by Dire Straits is another good choice. It’s not really appropriate for the OP’s use, but no list of baseball songs is complete without [A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk). It’s a great song on its own; the details behind it make it heartbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/12 "2012-07-10T08:53:24Z")
You should check out The Baseball Project. Peter Buck from REM is in it, as are a couple of other alt rock guys. There are two albums and they released a song every month of the baseball season last year on [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com). Obviously none of the songs are well known but the lyrics of all them are about baseball. On the first album, for instance, there’s a song about Harvey Haddix’s “perfect” game, Curt Flood and the rise of free agency, a song dedicated to the mindset of the closer, etc. The ESPN songs were reportage on the season in progress. They’re pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/13 "2012-07-10T11:34:37Z")
Wilco - “Joe DiMaggio” (lyrics by Woody Guthrie) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/14 "2012-07-10T13:55:40Z")
“Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball” by Woodrow “Buddy” Johnson and Count Basie, 1949 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/15 "2012-07-10T14:20:05Z")
Peter Paul and Mary’s **[Right Field](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVnb0wveRg)**, which matches my baseball playing days perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![ScarletNumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@ScarletNumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScarletNumber)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/16 "2012-07-10T14:28:57Z")
“Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” by Les Brown & His Band of Renown ---
**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/17 "2012-07-10T23:37:44Z")
These are all terrific, and I only would have come up with one or two of these on my own. Thanks - I’ll be incorporating many of these! ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/18 "2012-07-12T01:30:35Z")
This is not a baseball song, but the theme to the movie “The Sting” called “The Entertainer” strikes me as a nice fit to kids’ baseball highlights. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/19 "2012-07-12T03:36:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Meat Loaf, _Paradise By The Dashboard Light_ Maybe not so much for a slide show for 11 year olds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734/20 "2012-07-12T12:51:41Z")
I suppose you can’t go wrong with _Centerfield_, but it’s become a bit cliche, IMO. There are millions of versions of \*Take Me Out to the Ball Game \*if you want to do variations on a theme. Bruce Springsteen, Dr. John, the Goo Goo Dolls, Frank Sinatra, and the Ventures have recorded it, to name only a few. A couple of oldies I like (in addition to the previously mentioned _Talkin’ Baseball_) are \*It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ball Game \*by The Harry Simeone Songsters and \*Baseball Baseball \*by Jane Morgan, but the kids probably wouldn’t be too excited with these. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-oriented-songs-for-a-slide-show/627734.md?page=2)