The opening days of baseball season are upon us. It’s time to think baseball. No other song embodies baseball like “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” This song, written by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tizer, is the de-facto official baseball song, a true anthem of America’s national pastime. Neither of the songwriters ever attended a baseball game prior to writing the song in 1908. Showing the true power of a well-written song, this song’s chorus is broadcast over the P.A. systems at most baseball stadiums during “the seventh inning stretch,” with the fans singing along in today’s world.
Although there have been many recorded versions, the most famous was done by Ed Meeker for Edison records. This version was selected by the Library of Congress as an addition to the National Recording Registry.
Here’s a link to Ed Meeker’s version.
Here are the original lyrics, as sung by Ed Meeker:
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:”
[Chorus]
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me 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 ball game.
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