Play Ball!
At the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown NY
Starting pro baseball season in the middle of this big economic losing streak might be a good idea, or it might be a bad one. Good idea – the simplicity and fun of America’s pastime might get our minds off our money woes. Bad idea – we can’t afford a friggin’ ticket!
But we really have no choice: baseball has its own time, like the seasons. It arrives, whether we are ready for it or not. We will soon be wondering about lineups, starting pitchers, Manny, the damned Red Sox and lots more.
They should add a line to every player’s baseball card saying whether or not he took steroids. They should have Bruce Springsteen play after one game in every ballpark in America. And they should bring back Lee Elia. Time to play ball.
MP3: “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” by the Hold Steady
MP3: “Who’s On First?” by Abbott & Costello
MP3: “Catfish” by Kinky Friedman
MP3: “Yankee Stadium” by Nils Lofgren
MP3: “Narragansett Beer” by Curt Gowdy
MP3: “Past Time” by the Baseball Project
MP3: “Go, Cubs, Go!” by Steve Goodman
MP3: “Hank Aaron’s 715th Home Run” by Milo Hamilton
MP3: “Baseball, Baseball” by Jane Morgan
MP3: “Baseball Bat” by Courtney Love
MP3: “Real Men of Genius: Mr. Designated Hitter” Bud Light commercial
MP3: “Centerfield” (live) by John Fogerty w/Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Clarence Clemons
MP3: “Get The F***ing Job Done” by Lee Elia
YouTube: “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” by Steve Goodman (Thanks Ken Shane, for the suggestion!)
30 Days Out 
April 2, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I am SO ready for baseball. Exhibitions start in the new Yankee Stadium tomorrow night.
There’s a great song called “Cooperstown” on the new Felice Brothers album, and since you listed Steve Goodman, his “Dying Cub Fans Last Request” is very poignant.
April 2, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Here’s what Jim “Catfish” Hunter says about Bob Dylan on his MySpace page:
I should probably mention that Bob Dylan fella because he wrote a song about me. Personally, I never really cared for his music. He doesn’t have much of a singing voice neither. And when I met him…well, he’s a real nervous, fidgety type of fella. I met plenty of his kind when I played for the Yankees, but I’m a North Carolina boy at heart. But if you care that much about it, you can read the lyrics and hear the song on his website, right about here…http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/catfish.html
April 3, 2009 at 5:09 am
haven’t heard much great music for football, soccer, basketball. Baseball inspires.