Favorite 3 Baseball Songs

Legendary Washington area radio DJ Weasel, formerly of WHFS, now does a weekly three-hour program (Weasel’s Wild Weekend) on Towson University’s AAA station WTMD (Friday nights at 7, repeated Saturday at noon). His program always focuses on one or more themes, and last night he devoted the entire show to songs that were more or less about baseball. (The Beatles’ “I’m A Loser” fits into the “less” category, but close enough.)

This wound up being a nice way to take some of the sting out of the Nationals’ disappointing loss to the reviled Braves in their home opener in the afternoon. Although the world doesn’t contain three hours of truly great songs about baseball, it does possess enough that are at least interesting and fun.

At any rate, the show inspired me to come up with a very short list of favorite baseball songs, all of which were included in Weasel’s show.

#3  Take Me Out to the Ball Game -- Bruce Springstone (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D3PqhHx5eM

I had heard this song back in the day (almost certainly on Weasel’s WHFS show), but until checking Google last night I hadn’t realized that it was a Baltimore/Washington area product. Featured musicians include Washington power-pop legend Tommy Keane on guitar and the renowned Ron Holloway on saxophone. Baltimore’s Tom Chalkley does a great Springsteen impersonation, and to top things off, it was engineered at Hit & Run Studios (how appropriate) right here in Rockville.

 

#2  A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request -- Steve Goodman (1984)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk  

To the extent that Steve Goodman is known at all, it’s as the writer of “City of New Orleans”, which was popularized by Arlo Guthrie and recorded by many others. Goodman wrote and recorded quite a few other great songs during his short lifetime, but this one is definitely a must-hear for any baseball fan, of the Cubbies or otherwise.

Trivia note: among Goodman’s high-school classmates in Chicago was one Hillary Rodham.

 

#1  When My Buckner Moment Comes -- Dan Bern (2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef5mlTzlErE
http://danbern.bandcamp.com/track/when-my-buckner-moment-comes (lyrics, audio only)

I heard this one for the first time last night, promptly added it to my iTunes collection, and have played it half a dozen times or so since. Calling it a great baseball song wouldn’t be quite accurate – it’s a great song about life, with baseball as a reference point. (Apologies to Katie and other Red Sox fans for dredging up any painful memories.)