Entertainment Monday: Baseball Songs and Clips (Monday April 4, 2016)

Entertainment Monday: Baseball Songs and Clips (Monday April 4, 2016)

Today is the unofficial opening day of the Major League Baseball season. YAY!  Three games were played yesterday, which was the official opening, including the first game for my New York Mets who began the season against the Kansas City Royals.  As baseball fans would be aware of, the Royals are the team the Mets lost the World Series to last year.  However, for the majority of major league teams Monday is the start to the 2016 season.  In celebration of Opening Day, a day on which hope springs eternal for all baseball fans, I wanted to share a couple of classic baseball songs and baseball related clips from the past in this weeks Entertainment Monday post.

Willie Mays is generally considered among the top 10 baseball players of all time, with some people considering him the greatest of all time.  Even though Hank Aaron gets honorable mention, Mays is certainly the greatest living major league ball player.  In an era when MLB ball players were the athletic icons for many American children songs were often written about them.  Not only is Mays one of the most legendary athletes but he had one of the most memorable baseball songs sung about him.

Say Hey by the Treniers

A song I always think of when baseball starts is Randy Newman's theme to the Robert Redford movie the Natural.  In my estimation the best baseball movie I've ever seen.

The theme to the Natural by Randy Newman

Here is the movie clip featuring Roy Hobbs pennant winning homer in the Natural.


Scene from The Natural

The comedy duo of Abbot and Costello are probably best known for their famous Who's on First routine.  It is a routine that has stood the test of time and it is a classic that truly never gets old.

Who's on First by Abbott and Costello

The song that is probably most universally linked to Major League Baseball is Take Me Out To the Ballgame.

Here is a full version of the song sung in 1908

Finally I wanted to share what is most likely the most famous baseball poem of all time is Casey at the Bat written by Ernest Thayer.

Casey at the Bat narrated by Lionel Barrymore

I am so excited for a new baseball season as outside of my family and friends baseball has been the most important thing in my life.  PLAY BALL!