For generations, the spirited melody of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” has echoed through baseball stadiums across America during the seventh-inning stretch. This beloved sing-along unites fans, creating a joyful interlude in the heart of the game. But the story behind this iconic tune is as surprising as it is charming, originating not from the diamond, but from the bustling streets of New York City and the imaginative mind of a songwriter who had never actually witnessed a baseball game.
The year was 1908, and Jack Norworth, a 29-year-old wordsmith from Tin Pan Alley, was riding the subway. Amidst the rumble and rattle, a sign proclaiming “Baseball Today—Polo Grounds” caught his eye. This simple advertisement sparked an idea, igniting his creative spark. Despite his lack of firsthand baseball experience, Norworth envisioned a scene, sketching out verses about a fictional baseball enthusiast named Katie Casey. Katie wasn’t interested in the typical outings of the time; as the lyrics playfully reveal, when her beau suggested a show, Katie’s enthusiastic reply was a resounding, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!” This catchy phrase became the heart of the chorus we know and love today.
With lyrics in hand, Norworth turned to his friend and fellow Tin Pan Alley composer, Albert Von Tilzer, to craft the melody. Interestingly, Von Tilzer also confessed to never having attended a baseball game. This detail adds an extra layer of whimsy to the song’s origin – a baseball anthem created by two individuals who were, at least initially, outside of the baseball world. The song quickly found its voice through vaudeville performer Nora Bayes, Norworth’s wife, who introduced it to audiences. In the same year of its creation, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was recorded by Edward Meeker for Edison Records, further cementing its place in popular culture.
Before long, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” transcended vaudeville stages and record players, making its way into early movie theaters. During intermissions, audiences were treated to on-screen lyrics, encouraging them to enthusiastically join in on the chorus, singing about Katie Casey’s baseball desires. The song’s infectious energy and relatable theme propelled it into becoming a genuine pop hit, resonating far beyond its initial theatrical and musical circles.
The precise moment “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” became a fixture at baseball games remains somewhat shrouded in history. However, its enduring popularity throughout the decades is undeniable. The song has inspired countless renditions, recordings across various genres, and even a 1949 feature film starring legendary performers Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, bearing the song’s iconic title.
Jack Norworth’s contribution to baseball culture was officially recognized in 1958 when Major League Baseball honored him with a gold lifetime ballpark pass. Decades later, in 2001, the Recording Industry of America further solidified the song’s significance, ranking “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as No. 8 on its prestigious Songs of the Century list.
While Norworth’s prolific career boasts over 2,500 songs, including the classic “Shine on Harvest Moon,” it is undeniably “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” that stands as his most enduring legacy. This simple yet captivating narrative about Katie Casey and her passion for baseball, initially scribbled on a scrap of paper – now a treasured artifact in the National Baseball Hall of Fame – has rightfully earned its title as “baseball’s national anthem.”
Today, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” enjoys a level of ubiquity rivaling even “Happy Birthday,” particularly within the spirited atmosphere of ballparks. During the seventh-inning stretch, fans of all ages unite their voices, continuing the tradition of singing this timeless ode to baseball, peanuts, and Cracker Jack, ensuring its cheerful chorus will resonate for generations to come.
Fun Facts about “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”:
- Jack Norworth, the songwriter, was born in 1879 and composed the song in 1908 at the age of 29.
- Neither Jack Norworth nor Albert von Tilzer, the composer of the melody, had ever attended a professional baseball game before creating the song.
- The song tells the story of Katie Casey, a girl with “baseball fever,” whose famous line is “Take me out to the ballgame!”
- Edward Meeker’s 1908 recording for Edison Phonograph Company introduced the song to a wider audience.
- Early movie theaters used the song during intermissions, encouraging audience participation with on-screen lyrics.
- In 1927, Jack Norworth penned a second version of the song, changing the girl’s name to Nelly Kelly, while keeping the iconic chorus unchanged.
- Cracker Jack, a relatively new product in 1893, experienced a surge in popularity after being mentioned in the song’s lyrics.
- “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was commemorated with a U.S. postage stamp in 2008, marking its centennial.
- Despite writing over 2,500 songs, including “Shine on Harvest Moon,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” remains Norworth’s most famous work.
- Jack Norworth finally attended his first professional baseball game in 1940, long after penning baseball’s anthem.
- Before his death in 1959, Major League Baseball gifted Norworth a gold lifetime park pass in 1958, acknowledging his contribution to the sport’s culture.
(Original Lyrics)
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.”
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.
