Amen to that.
I think it’s become a Sunday game tradition. It sucks. I went to the Twins game Sunday, though, and rather than Kate Smith’s godawful version, Jim “Mudcat” Grant sang it, and that was really well done. I think it’s odd to have the Star Spangled Banner played before games, and I doubt anyone can give a valid (to me!) reason why it’s done.
Somewhat related anecdote: I ran a half marathon 2 years ago, and the temp was about 40°F with a light drizzle, and we runners had to wait for the starting gun until the SSB was played over the PA. This wasn’t some big race, either. It was a casual race with maybe 300 runners.
Likewise the Cleveland Indians.
Ronan Tynan has only done it once or twice in Boston. 
Yes, it’s Sundays, and also the occasional patriotic holiday. AFAIK, every team does it (maybe not the Blue Jays), and it’s obnoxious every time. I went to the opera on September 13, 2001, and found the singing of God Bless America perfectly appropriate at the time. But it’s not September 13th anymore. I don’t think religious fervor is a requirement for wanting to see a guy hit a bll with a wooden stick.
–Cliffy
And, I see that David Cook came to the men’s final of the US Tennis Open and sang:
America the Beautiful
???
I’d be happy to be rid of anthems at sporting events entirely. Why do we suddenly put on a display of patriotism before a sporting event? What does patriotism have to do with baseball or hockey or football?
I actually agree. I never understood it.
The Red Sox play “Sweet Caroline”. Not sure if they still do Kate Smith.
Weak, especially since (I’m sure) all they heard was the chorus. Everybody thinks they know this song, and hardly anybody does. If I owned a team, I’d play the Carly Simon version.
I’m with you. Except when national teams play each other. I like the anthems then.
The late baseball owner Bill Veeck put it very well: “Look, we play the national anthem before every game. You want us to pay taxes too?” :D:D
I’m with you there!
I’m also voting against playing “God Bless America”, and in favor of “This Land is Your Land” and “America.” I also want a pony.
We sang the full song at choir camp one year. Let’s see how well I can remember the full lyrics:
Verse 1
Katy Casey loves baseball games
Knew the players knew all their names
You could see her their every day
Shout “Hooray!” when they play.
<Insert some second part here>
Chorus
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks
I don’t care if I ever get back
'Cause it’s root, root, root for the home team.
If they don’t win it’s a shame,
For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out
At the old ballgame.
**Verse 2
**Katy Casey was sure some fan.
She could root just like any man.
Told the umpire that he was wrong
All along–Good and strong.
When the score was just 2 to 2.
Katy Casey knew what to do
Just to cheer up the boys she knew
She’d play them this swaying(?) song
Reprise Chorus
Outro
Yes, it’s one, two, three strikes your out.
It’s summer time, and we’re going to shout.
It’s the <insert team here> that we’re talking about
At the old ballgame.
Okay, now I’m going to look at the first line in the part I forgot to see if I can remember the rest. Or, at least I was, but neither version seemed familiar. But I finally remembered it was the one about the “beau”, oddly enough.
I wasn’t sure if I got the last line of the second verse correct, but after I remembered what I said in the last paragraph, I’m sure I was wrong. And I was sure the outro was peculiar to the male chorus version we sang–but I like the personalization.
Almost made it: I remembered what I said on editing, which is why I fixed it. Originally I doubted I’d ever sang the second part of the first verse. 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:” I specifically remember the Miss Kate part. Also note that this song is not under copyright anymore, or I wouldn’t have done this.
I was at a Cubs game earlier this year, and no God Bless America. Yay.
The local minor league team does it, every time. Okay, it’s New York State, a train ride away from “the City,” but I’m with the OP. It’s getting really lame and really old.
The minor league team a little further north plays it some of the time, but I think not always.
I have never been a big fan of any of the so-called “Irish Tenors,” but what am I missing about Ronan Tynan? Is it his voice you’re complaining about, or something else?
They didn’t do it at the last Pirates game I went to but that wasn’t around September or a holiday so it might be a special occassion thing. I’ve been sick of “God Bless America” ever since they decided it was necessary to end all of our high school football games post 9/11 with it (I was a senior in 01-02). Fine for the first few games but it became overkill after that.
It’s especially obnoxious when you consider that the 9/11 terrorists were acting in the name of the same god that the song asks to bless America.
This land is my land, this land ain’t your land
I’ve got a shotgun, and you ain’t got one
So if you don’t get off, I’ll blow your head off
This land is private property.
What do you mean those aren’t words?