The Baseball Guru OMI - Put me in Coach Part II by Herb Rogoff

APRIL 2014: THE 132nd ARTICLE FOR BASEBALL GURU

ONEMOREINNING

…..PUT ME IN COACH, I'M READY TO PLAY TODAY: PART TWO….

BASEBALL SONGS BESIDES YOU KNOW WHAT

SAY HEY: The Treniers:

During the recording of the song Mays came in and added some spoken dialogue to it. Ken Burns used it in his ground breaking ten part series devoted to the game.

Milt Trenier is the sole surviving member of the Trenier's and he sings it during his solo act at various Chicago restaurants and other venues.

He runs the bases like a choo choo train,

Swings around third like an Aero plane.

His cap flies off when he passes third,

and he heads home like an Eagle bird.

SAY HEY, SAY WHO?

SAY WILLIE!

ALL THE WAY: Eddie Veder:

When Eddie Veder met Ernie Banks at a Chicago Cubs fantasy camp, Banks talked him into writing All The Way. This was in 2008. Veder is a lifetime Cubs fan and was glad to do it. He recorded the song the same year and it is now played during the Cubs seventh inning stretch and quite often Veder sings it as well.

Don't let anyone say its just a game,

for I've seen other teams and its never the same.

When you're born into Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed,

first time you walk onto Wrigley Field.

TESSIE: Drop Kick Murphys:: Will R. Anderson:

Tessie was written for the 1902 Broadway show, The Silver Slipper. The Royal Rooters of the Boston Pilgrims (Later to become the Boston Red Sox) adapted Tessie as their rallying song early on and more often than not it worked. In 2004 The Drop Kick Murphys recorded it in a rock version. Later Johnny Damon and other Red Sox players recorded it as well. It's played quite often at the games.

Tessie, Nuf Sed Mcgreevey said,

we're not here to mess around.

You know we love you madly.

Hear the crowd roar to your sound,

Don't blame us if we ever doubt you,

you know we couldn't live without you,

Red Sox you’re the only, only….

CHEAP SEATS: Marcus Hummon:

Alabama recorded the song in 1993. It was made into a Video that same year and then released as a single where it did well. None of the members of Alabama were baseball fans and as far as we know still aren't.

This town aint big,

this town aint small

It’s a little bit of both they say,

Our ball club may be minor but at least its triple A.

We sit below the Marlboro Man above the right field wall,

We do the wave by ourself,

hey Ump a blind man coulda made that call.

BIG LEAGUE: Tom Chapman:

Based on a true story that Chapman heard about a young athlete who's

career was cut short by a motor accident. Chapman recorded it with his group, Red Ryder.

My Boys gonna play in the Big Leagues,

my boys gonna turn some heads,

My boys gonna play in the big leagues,

my boys gonna knock 'em dead.

Ah the big league.

VAN LINGLE MUNGO: Dave Fishberg:

Looking through the baseball encyclopedia, Chapman discovered baseball names and decided to put some of them into a song. He chose Pitcher Van Lingle Mungo for the title. Each section ends with his name. Of all the 32 names mentioned only two, Johnny Antonelli and Eddie Basinski are still living. The song is in the Hall Of Fame.

Hank Majeski, Johnny Gee,

Eddie Joost, Johnny Pesky,

Danny Gardella, Thornton Lee,

VAN LINGLE MUNGO.

NOLAN RYAN: HE'S A HERO TO US ALL: Jerry Jeff Walker:

Jerry Jeff Walker wrote this in tribute to Ryan. He idolized him as he was growing up. He met him after the song appeared and they have been friends ever since.

Nolan Ryan, he's a hero to us all,

Nolan Ryan he stands straight, he stands tall.

He don't mess around boys;

He just throws a mean fast ball.

JOE DiMAGGIO DONE IT AGAIN: Wilco, Billy Bragg (music) Woodie Guthrie (words)

Guthrie wrote the song in 1949. 51 years later it was orchestrated by Bragg and Wilco and recorded in 2001. In recent years its gained in popularity.

Some thought big Joe was done,

Some figured Joe was gone.

Steps up to the platter with a great big grin,

Joe DiMaggio done it again.

MORE OF THE SAME NEXT MONTH INCLUDING YOU KNOW WHAT….