Seventh-inning stretch

Mascots and fans during a seventh-inning stretch

Inbaseballin theUnited StatesandCanada,theseventh-inning stretch(also known as theLucky 7in Japan) is a long-standing tradition that takes place between the halves of the seventhinningof a game. Fans generally stand up and stretch out their arms and legs and sometimes walk around. It is a popular time to get a late-game snack or an alcoholic beverage, as alcohol sales often cease after the last out of the seventh inning. The stretch also serves as a short break for the players.

Most ballparks in professional baseball mark this point of the game by playing the crowd sing-along song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".If a game goes into a fifth extra inning, a similar" fourteenth-inning stretch "is celebrated (as well as, in theory, a possible" twenty-first-inning stretch "or even" twenty-eighth-inning stretch "). Insoftballgames, amateur baseball games scheduled for only seven innings (little leagueplays usually six), or in minor-leaguedoubleheaders,a "fifth-inning stretch" may be substituted.

InJapan,the seventh-inning stretch consists of two parts: one after the end of the 6th inning, where the away team'sfight songis played, as fans are encouraged to sing along. The second part is after the top of the 7th inning, when the home team's fight song is played. Every team has a unique fight song that is played regardless of where they play on a given day.

Origin

Harry Wright,first to report the seventh-inning stretch in 1869—in the second inning

William Howard Taft,first U.S. president to observe the seventh-inning stretch in 1910

The origin of the seventh-inning stretch tradition is much disputed, and it is difficult to certify any definite history.

One claimant isBrother Jasper (Brennan) of Mary,F.S.C.,the man credited with bringing baseball toManhattan Collegein New York City. Being the Prefect of Discipline as well as the coach of the team, it fell to Brother Jasper to supervise the student fans at every home game. On one particularly hot and muggy day in June 1882, during the seventh inning against a semi-pro team called the Metropolitans, the Prefect noticed his charges becoming restless. To break the tension, he called a timeout in the game and instructed everyone in the bleachers to stand up and unwind. It worked so well he began calling for a seventh-inning rest period at every game. The Manhattan College custom spread to the major leagues after theNew York Giantswere charmed by it at an exhibition game.

In June 1869 theNew York Heraldpublished a report on a game between the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Brooklyn Eagles (home team): "At the close of the long second inning, the laughable stand up and stretch was indulged in all round the field."

Whether a stretch was observed nationwide is not known, but later in 1869 theCincinnati Commercialreported on a game that was played on the West Coast between the Red Stockings and the Eagle Club of San Francisco: "One thing noticeable in this game was a ten minutes' intermission at the end of the sixth inning – a dodge to advertise and have the crowd patronize the bar."

However, a letter written in 1869 byHarry Wright(1835–1895), manager of theCincinnati Red Stockingsdocumented something very similar to a seventh-inning stretch, making the following observation about the Cincinnati fans' ballpark behavior: "The spectators all arise between halves of the seventh inning, extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about. In so doing they enjoy the relief afforded by relaxation from a long posture upon hard benches." Another tale holds that the stretch was invented by a manager stalling for time to warm up arelief pitcher.

On October 18, 1889, Game 1 of the1889 World Seriessaw a seventh-inning stretch after somebody yelled "stretch for luck".

A popular story for the origin of the seventh-inning stretch is that on April 14, 1910, on opening day, 6 ft 2 in (188 cm), 350-pound (160 kg), PresidentWilliam Howard Taftwas sore from prolonged sitting at a game between theWashington Senatorsand thePhiladelphia Athleticsand stood up to stretch, causing the crowd to feel obligated to join their president in his gestures.This story is set at a far later date than the others, however, so he may only have given the presidential seal of approval to a longstanding tradition; the story that his physical problems forced him to stand up contradict this, but he might have just been waiting for the proper accepted time to relieve his pain; either way, he gave national publicity to the practice.

As to the name, there appears to be no written record of the name "seventh-inning stretch" before 1920, which since at least the late 1870s was called the Lucky Seventh, indicating that the 7th inning was settled on for superstitious reasons.

Jack Norworth(1879–1959) (left), lyricist of the 1908 song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".It was first sung by Norworth's then-wife,Nora Bayes(right), c. 1910.

Current practice

In modern baseball, standing up and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"during the seventh-inning stretch is a popular tradition. It was first played at a ballpark at a high school in Los Angeles, California in 1934. The composers,Jack Norworth(1879–1959) (lyrics) andAlbert Von Tilzer(1878–1956) (music), had both never attended an actual baseball game prior to writing this popular song.Norworth only attended his first Major League game much later in 1940.

There is no certain date when the tradition began, but the practice gained exceptional popularity from broadcasterHarry Caray.Caray would sing the song to himself in the broadcast booth during the stretch while aplay-by-play announcerfor theChicago White Sox.After hearing him sing one day, White Sox ownerBill VeeckJr., the famed baseball promoter, had Caray's microphone turned on so that the ballpark could hear him sing. When Caray moved into theChicago Cubsbroadcast booth, he continued the practice, sparking what has become a Cubs tradition by regularly leading the crowd in singing the song in every seventh-inning stretch. Since his death, the Cubs have invited various celebrities to lead the crowd during the stretch, includingJames Belushi,John Cusack,Mike Ditka,Michael J. Fox,Bill Murray,Dan Patrick,Ozzy Osbourne,Eddie Vedder,Mr. TandBilly Corgan.

Team traditions

FeRROUS, one of two mascots for theLehigh Valley IronPigs,theTriple-Aaffiliate of thePhiladelphia Phillies,performs during the seventh-inning stretch atCoca-Cola ParkinAllentown, Pennsylvania,August 2018

Many teams will also play a local traditional song either before or after "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". Since 1975, theBaltimore Orioleshave often played the raucousJohn Denversong "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"at the conclusion of" Take Me Out to the Ball Game ". During thebridgeof the song, in which Denver holds a long note, fans yell "Ooooooooh!" (since the nameOriolesis often shortened to "O's".) TheAtlanta Bravesalso play this song after "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

Jane Jarvis,the organist at theNew York Mets' homeShea Stadiumfrom 1964 to 1979, played the "Mexican Hat Dance"during the stretch. After the Mets switched to recorded music," Take Me Out to the Ball Game "became standard. In recent decades, theLou Montetune "Lazy Mary"has followed it, a practice that has continued since the team's move toCiti Field.

When theSt. Louis Cardinalswere owned byAnheuser-Busch,Busch Memorial StadiumorganistErnie Hays played "Here Comes the King",a commonly recognizedjingleforBudweiserbeer, during the stretch. OnOpening Day,during playoff games and on "big nights" such as games against the Chicago Cubs, a team of Budweiser's mascotClydesdalehorses would also make a circuit of thewarning track.Since Anheuser-Busch's sale of the Cardinals in 1996, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has been played in the middle of the 7th inning, with "Here Comes The King" at the top of the 8th. Often, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is followed by an instrumental rendition of "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis".The Clydesdales still appear on Opening Day and during the playoffs. The tradition remained upon moving toBusch Stadiumin 2006.

TheToronto Blue Jaystake the term "seventh-inningstretch"literally, asHealth Canadaofficials lead fans atRogers Centrein stretchingexerciseswhile the club's song "OK Blue Jays"plays before" Take Me Out to the Ball Game ".

TheMiami Marlins,attempting to mimic the Blue Jays' exercising song in their inaugural year of 1993, created a group of dancers, some formerUniversity of MiamiSunsations orMiami Heatdancers, and called the group "The Seventh Inning Stretchers". At the first game this group came onto the field at the top of the 7th inning, and the crowd was encouraged to stand and stretch, and do a choreographed dance to Gloria Estefan's song "Get on Your Feet".The crowd, thinking it was the actual 7th-inning stretch, booed loudly. The group appeared at a second game the following evening, but was booed again and was never seen following that game.

After theTampa Bay Rays' 1998 home opener, they played the popularJimmy Buffettsong "Fins"after the 6th inning, rather than the 7th-inning stretch. The grounds crew sent on the field after the 6th inning wore tropical clothing, and everyone in the park formed their arms into fins for the" Fins to the left, fins to the right "portions of the song. This tradition was dropped several years later.

TheTexas Rangersinitially played only "Cotton-Eyed Joe"during the 7th-inning stretch. When the team moved to their new facility in 1994,The Ballpark in Arlington(now Choctaw Stadium), "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was added to 7th-inning stretch, followed by "Cotton-Eyed Joe". Somewhat unusual for a 7th-inning stretch song, the version of "Cotton-Eyed Joe" played is an instrumental, by Al Dean from the albumPlays for Urban Cowboys.Rather than singing along, the crowd claps along and stomps their feet to the tune. Upon moving toGlobe Life Fieldin 2020 amidst theCOVID-19 pandemic,they kept the tradition.

Although theNew York Yankeesplay "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-Inning Stretch, it is preceded by "God Bless America"ever since theSeptember 11 attackson theWorld Trade Center.

TheMinnesota Twinsplay "Little Red Corvette"byPrince,due to the tradition that rookies and newly traded players know the lyrics to the song.

Other clubs that traditionally play songs after "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" include:Cincinnati Reds( "Cincinnati, Ohio (song)"– Connie Smith),Milwaukee Brewers( "The Beer Barrel Polka"– in reference to the city's beermaking heritage),Houston Astros( "Deep in the Heart of Texas"),Los Angeles Angels( "Good 4 U"byOlivia Rodrigo),Seattle Mariners( "Can't Hold Us"byMacklemore & Ryan Lewis), theColorado Rockies(a cover version of "Hey! Baby"), thePittsburgh Pirates( "We Are Fam-a-leea homage to the slogan used in the 1979 season) andWashington Nationals( "Take On Me"byA-ha,a song that became popular with Nationals fans during the 2012 season whenMichael Morseused it as his walk-up music).

8th inning traditions

Many teams have 8th inning traditions as well. In 2020 and 2021, when MLB began to shortendoubleheadergames to 7 innings, the traditions continued for doubleheaders only if the games proceed to an 8th inning (markingextra innings).

While all thirty Major League franchises currently sing the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in the seventh inning, several other teams will sing their local favorite between the top and bottom of the eighth inning.Boston Red Soxfans atFenway Park,for example, sing along toNeil Diamond's recording of "Sweet Caroline".A notable occurrence happened in June 2011 when during the playing of the song, the city'sNHLfranchise, theBoston Bruins,captured theStanley Cupfollowing a 7-game series against theVancouver Canucks,and many fans cheered after the announcement was made. Following theBoston Marathon bombing,several teams (including Boston's archrival, theNew York Yankees) temporarily played "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the eighth inning as well, or at other times during the game, as a means of showing solidarity with the City of Boston.The New York Mets have previously used "Sweet Caroline" but have since dropped it. After experimenting with it during select games during the 2014 season, the Mets began to implement Billy Joel's "Piano Man"as a full-time sing along. Similarly, starting in 2008, theKansas City Royalsbegan to play "Friends in Low Places"by celebrity supporter and one-timespring traininginviteeGarth Brooksduring the middle of the 8th.

TheLos Angeles Dodgersalso hold an 8th inning tradition, with fans singingJourney's"Don't Stop Believin'".The practice came under controversy when the song's author,Steve Perry,aBay Areanative andSan Francisco Giantsfan, asked the Dodgers to stop the tradition. The team refused and continue to play the song through the 2013 season.TheMinnesota Twins,who played the same song, ended the tradition upon moving toTarget Fieldin 2010.

The Journey song "Lights"is frequently played atSan Francisco Giantsbaseball games (including a version led by Perry himself in the middle of the 8th inning during Game 2 of the2010 World Series) and the cross-bayOakland Athleticsafter-game fireworks starts.

The Detroit Tigers also play the beginning of "Don't Stop Believin'" in the eighth inning, showing the lyrics on the big screen. The Washington Nationals play "Baby Shark"in the middle of the 8th inning, in honor ofGerardo Parra's walkup song and theirfirst and only World Series title.The Oakland Athletics play Bay Area nativeMC Hammer's "2 Legit 2 Quit"during the middle of the eighth. TheCleveland Guardiansplay "Hang on Sloopy",Ohio's official rock song, during the middle of the 8th, and fans spell out O-H-I-O at the appropriate times within the song (similar toOhio State Universityand other Cleveland sporting events). TheSan Diego Padresplay theRighteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"during the middle of the 8th. TheNew York Yankeesused to play "Cotton Eyed Joe" in the 8th inning. They currently do a 1980s music song with a camera panning the crowd. TheSt. Louis Cardinalsplay "Here Comes the King"in between the 7th and 8th innings.

Other team traditions not in the 7th or 8th innings

Between the top and bottom of the 6th inning, theNew York Yankeesplay "Y.M.C.A."byVillage Peoplewhile the grounds crew come out and clean the infield. In the chorus, the grounds crew drop their tools and do the "YMCA" dance with their arms. The middle of the 6th inning atMilwaukee Brewersgames is time for theSausage Race,when people running in costumes for the bratwurst, Polish sausage, Italian sausage, hot dog and chorizo get up to 45,000 fans on their feet as they race around the clay dirt near the dugouts ofAmerican Family Field.Other teams hold similar races. ThePittsburgh Pirateshold the "Great Pittsburgh Pierogi Race N'At" (also called theGreat Pierogi Race) during the sixth inning at home games, where people dressed as cartoon cheese, sauerkraut, jalapeno, potato, onion, and bacon pierogies run around the warning track at PNC Park. This race is often combined with visiting mascots such as the Brewers' sausages or the Nationals' presidents.

See also

• Half-time

External links

• Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C and Seventh Inning Stretch, Manhattan College.