The Sounds of Baseball

You might be familiar with the sights and smells, but have you ever thought about the sounds of baseball? The Crack! of the bat. The Pop! of the mitt. The Whoosh! of a slide. Metal cleats clattering against the hard concrete inside the dugout. It’s a beautiful game because it stimulates all of your senses. Join us as we take a look at the best sounds synonymous with our great pastime. 

Baseball Organ Music

For starters, one of the most recognizable sounds at a baseball game is the organ. Generating a spirited vibe no matter the situation, the organist at a baseball game sets the tone for the whole viewing experience. They can generate enthusiasm, rhythmic claps, and even elicit people to spontaneously yell CHARGE! with five easy notes. You may find other sports trying to replicate the experience, but nothing can beat the sound of an organ at a baseball game. (We’ll give hockey some love for their organists too.)

The Best Baseball Sounds

From kids laughing to the sound of grass being cut, there are certain things in life that make you think about baseball. Let’s take a look at a list of the words and sounds associated with America's pastime.

• The crack of the Bat
• Pop of the Mitt
• Clatter of Cleats
• Whoosh on a Slide
• Strrriiiike from an Umpire
• Infield Chatter
• Dugout Chatter
• Indistinguishable Coach Chatter
• Ballpark Vendors
• The Ballpark Organ
• Dragging the Infield
• Knocking the Donut Off 
• Anything Chain Link Fence Related
• Spitting Sunflower Seeds
• Popping Bubblegum
• The sizzle of a Fastball
• Communication on a Relay
• Pregame National Anthem
• 7th Inning Stretch
• A (Clever) Heckler
• Postgame Handshake Line
• Full-Team Mob After a Walkoff

History of the 7th Inning Stretch

Baseball’s most popular mid-game tradition is the 7th Inning Stretch. Taking place following the top of the 7th inning, the crowd will join in chorus to sing during the 7th Inning Stretch. The lyrics for the 7th Inning Stretch “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” are:

Take me out to the ballgame, 

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack,

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.

But what is the history behind this baseball tradition? Well, we took it upon ourselves to dive into the background. Let’s take a look.

The origin of the 7th Inning Stretch goes all the way back to 1908 when a man by the name of Jack Norworth was riding the subway. Norworth wrote the lyrics originally around the idea of a girl only willing to go on a date with the guy if he took her out to a baseball game. The song was then later set to music and officially copyrighted on May 2, 1908.

Fast forward a few years to 1910, when President William Taft attended Opening Day for the Washington Senators. Keep in mind that Taft was far from a small man, reportedly exceeding 300lbs during his presidency. Following the top of the seventh inning, Taft rose from his seat to alleviate a leg cramp. The rest of the crowd took notice and thought it meant Taft was getting ready to leave the game. Out of respect for the President, everyone in his section and surrounding sections began to rise as well. Taft ultimately stretched his legs and returned back to his previously sitting position. Legend has it that the tradition stuck from that point forward. Although the information is far from concrete, it’s a whimsical tale nonetheless. (Other accounts suggest that stadiums created the intermission to entice fans to visit concession stands. Another even goes as far as to say that a manager during the 19th Century noticed the crowd had become bored by his team’s play so he told them to stand up and stretch their legs.)

It wasn’t until 1976 that the musical element was introduced to the 7th Inning Stretch. The illustrious Chicago White Sox announcer, Harry Caray, sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” to a raucous response from the crowd. From that point forward it was set in baseball history.

Popular Baseball Walk-Up Songs 

As you likely know, players at the professional level get to choose what song they want to play throughout the stadium as they step into the box. Each song gives the fans a glimpse into a player’s personality or lifestyle. And for the players themselves, they get consistency through the speakers to lock-in before their at-bat. If you’re interested in the most popular walk up songs of all time for MLB players, take a look at the post published by Routine.

Best Walk-Up Songs of All Time

We hope you enjoyed this complete breakdown of the baseball sounds. And as always, if you ever have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Bat Experts at JustBats. We’re with you from Click to Hit!