Here are some of my all time favorite baseball songs in no particular order.
Centerfield: John Fogerty, formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival, released his album Centerfield in 2010. The song Centerfield was the title track.
Fogerty said that when he was growing up in California that they had no Major League teams. So he routed for the New York Yankees who had San Francisco native Joe DiMaggio in centerfield.
DiMaggio, Willie Mays and Ty Cobb are mentioned in the song. All centerfielders.
Lyrics:
Well, a-beat the drum and hold the phone,
The sun came out today.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third and headed for home,
It's a brown-eyed handsome man.
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine,
Watching it from the bench.
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out.
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb,
And Joe DiMaggio.
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now.
Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Yeah, I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat,
And a brand new pair of shoes.
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball, and touch 'em all,
A moment in the sun.
It's a-gone and you can tell that one good-bye.
Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Look at me (yeah), I can be centerfield.
Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today.
Look at me, gotta be, centerfield.
Yeah!
Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey And The Duke): Terry Cashman recorded this baseball song in 1981. The song is a look at Major League baseball from the 1950's to the 1980's.
Talkin' Baseball became so popular that Cashman recorded other versions of the song. Each referring to a specific Major League team.
Lyrics:
The Whiz Kids had won it,
Bobby Thomson had done it,
And Yogi read the comics all the while.
Rock 'n roll was being born,
Marijuana, we would scorn,
So down on the corner,
The national past-time went on trial.
We're talkin' baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin' baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew 'em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Well, Casey was winning,
Hank Aaron was beginning,
One Robbie going out, one coming in.
Kiner and Midget Gaedel,
The Thumper and Mel Parnell,
And Ike was the only one winning down in Washington.
We're talkin' baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin' baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew 'em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Now my old friend, The Bachelor,
Well, he swore he was the Oklahoma Kid.
And Cookie played hooky,
To go and see the Duke.
And me, I always loved Willie Mays,
Those were the days!
Well, now it's the 80's,
And Brett is the greatest,
And Bobby Bonds can play for everyone.
Rose is at the Vet,
And Rusty again is a Met,
And the great Alexander is pitchin' again in Washington.
I'm talkin' baseball!
Like Reggie, Quisenberry.
Talkin' baseball!
Carew and Gaylord Perry,
Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue,
If Cooperstown is calling, it's no fluke.
They'll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
It was Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
I'm talkin' Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Say Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Talkin' Baseball- Terry Cashman