The History of the Song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

A Baseball Tradition

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is a song that is sung at baseball games across America. It is part of the tradition of baseball to sing the chorus in the seventh inning. The inspiration for the tune is charming in its creation.

History: Inspiration From a Billboard

In 1908, Jack Norworth, a 29-year-old songwriter, was riding a subway to Manhattan, New York. The impulse to write all started when Norworth glanced out the window and saw a billboard that read “Baseball today—polo grounds.” With a spark of inspiration, he wrote out the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

It took him 15 minutes to write out the lyrics on a scrap of paper. His composer friend Albert Von Tilzer added the melody, which in turn was published by the New York music company. They were both part of the Tin Pan Alley musicians of New York at that time.

It Was an Instant Hit

The baseball melody was an instant hit in 1908. Edward Meeker recorded the song for Edison Phonograph Company; it became the hit record top song in the country for seven weeks, and it was the most popular song of that year.

The Story Told in the Song

The song, although written by a man, is told from the perspective of a young woman asking for admission to a baseball game that at the time was considered a male recreation. It has been historically thought of as a woman’s liberation song because of the speaker's wish to attend a ball game.

The song is about a fictional young woman named Katie Casey who wants to go to the ball game. The tune celebrates shots of the game with, “For it's one, two, three strikes, and you’re out.”

Katie Casey is invited out on a date by her young beau, to which she responds, “You know what you can do” ... “Take me out to the ball game.” Katie’s request makes the eight lines of the chorus that ballparks are familiar with. While the song is usually sung beginning with “Take me out to the ball game,” the opening verse is actually “Katie Casey was baseball mad, had the fever and had it bad.’’

The Original Lyrics

The original lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” included the story of Katie Casey.

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.”

More of Katie Casey is mentioned in a forgotten verse:

Recommended

Which NHL Team Should You Support? 9 Questions to Consider

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:

And the lyrics we have all become familiar with at baseball games:

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 ever 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 ... !

7th Inning

The song has been considered the baseball anthem. It was first performed at a baseball game in 1934 and then again later that year at a Major League Baseball game. The tradition of singing this baseball anthem in the seventh inning first took place in 1946. The band struck up the song during a game while fans stood for the seventh-inning stretch.

Chicago announcer Harry Caray occasionally sang the tune in the seventh inning. On opening day in 1976, Bill Veeck noticed fans singing along with Caray, so a secret microphone was placed in the broadcast booth the following day. Caray started singing the song over the microphone, and a tradition was born. Fans now sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in the seventh inning, at virtually every baseball game in America.

Legacy

Jack Norworth attended his first Major League Baseball game on June 27, 1940, 32 years after writing the song. On the 15th anniversary of his song, Major League Baseball, Inc. presented Norworth with a gold lifetime ballpark pass. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is now sung at every Major League Baseball game.

More Fun Facts

• 2001: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was named number 8 on the Songs of the Century list.
• “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is the 3rd most frequently sung tune in America.

More on Major League Baseball

• How Major League Baseball Can Fix Its Attendance Problem
  MLB game attendance is down. Is the sport in trouble? Only change can bring fans back to the ballpark. Here is a plan to help MLB put more butts in the seats.
• Major League Baseball Teams: A Short History
  Did you realize that Major League Baseball is woven into America’s long and diverse historical tapestry? Here's a look at teams of today and yesteryear.

Cited Sources

Baseball Almanac

Comments

Kelley Marks from Sacramento, California on April 16, 2018:

Hey, I didn't know the song had so many words. I guess they had to shorten it so it could be sung in a short period of time, that is, between innings. Anyway, thanks for the memories!...