# National Anthem at the Home Run Derby **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 16, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298 "2024-07-16T02:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/141 "2024-08-19T15:09:37Z")
And I would get merch from the first team to make a statement they are keeping it. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/142 "2024-08-19T15:12:37Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > And I would get merch from the first team to make a statement they are keeping it I was honestly unaware that _anyone_ liked the idea. I’m willing to lighten up if people really do enjoy it. But God Bless America must go. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/143 "2024-08-20T01:59:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m wondering if MLB requires it, or if each team can make their own decision. Anyone know? I just tried to google it, and couldn’t easily find a definitive reply. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/144 "2024-08-20T02:01:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > But God Bless America must go. If you attend a Toronto Blue Jays home game, you definitely won’t hear it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/145 "2024-08-20T12:32:43Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Baker](#): > > > > And I would get merch from the first team to make a statement they are keeping it > > I was honestly unaware that _anyone_ liked the idea. I’m willing to lighten up if people really do enjoy it. But God Bless America must go. I was at Saturday’s final Bay Bridge Series game in Oakland at the Coliseum, and God Bless America was not sung. And it was not missed, either. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/146 "2024-08-20T13:25:53Z")
I may be makling an error. I meant that I wanted the _ **national anthem** _ played, not God Bless America. Although that is a good song. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/147 "2024-08-31T18:13:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Why not handling it like in international soccer games and the Olympics, playing only the instrumental tracks of anthems? That would feel like the TV station signoffs at the end of the broadcast day of yore. The older folks might get up and go home. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298/148 "2024-08-31T21:35:03Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I was at Saturday’s final Bay Bridge Series game in Oakland at the Coliseum, and God Bless America was not sung. And it was not missed, either. I always thought “America the Beautiful” was always a better choice, anyway, if you were going to do one at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthem-at-the-home-run-derby/1004298.md?page=7)