"If more of us valued food and cheer and song over hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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Monday, June 3, 2013
Baseball Tunes: Here Come the Yankees
"Here Come the Yankees" has been the official song of the New York Yankees since 1967. It was composed by Bob Bundin and Lou Stallman, recorded by the Sid Bass Orchestra and Chorus. I mean no disrespect to Messrs. Bundin and Stallman, who were just doing their job. However, this is the city that spawned Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, The Cotton Club, Aaron Copland, the Met and Leonard Bernstein. And, love 'em or hate 'em (for me, it's the latter), this is one of the greatest sports franchises in the world. Something classier than a 1960s ad jingle is in order.
No doubt thinking along the same lines has led the following to become the Yanks' unofficial song, also quite fittingly played by teams in the organization's farm system.
Sinatra was a Jersey native and a devoted Yankee fan.
My Baseball Fantasy
Vermont League: won, 6-4 (48-33-9 overall, 1st place out of 12 teams)
Maryland League: won, 7-2-1 (45-38-7, 4th of 10)
Public League: 84.5 Rotisserie points (2nd of 12)
My MVP for the Week: Jarrod Parker (Starting Pitcher, A's) with 2 wins, 11 strikeouts, a 1.35 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP
I almost posted this without even clicking on the youtube link... but I had to make sure. Even though I didn't know the name of the official song, I was 99% sure I knew it anyway. I grew up in the shadow of NYC radio and TV, so I heard the instrumental version of this all the time. It was pretty much the "theme song of baseball." Hearing it also meant that I'd soon be hearing Phil Rizzuto's distinctive voice (you know him from the innuendo-filled baseball interlude on Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights"), too! Holy cow! :-)
I really don't follow baseball much these days. I watched a few games in 2003 and 2004, since everyone was talking about the curse being broken and all, but other than that, nah...
(I probably still have the '77 Yankees lineup in baseball cards, though... sans Reggie Jackson, which I stupidly traded away for a massive pile of other cards. Lesson learned that day: quantity does not beat quality!) :-)
Before moving up here, I assumed Vermont was a hockey state. Since, I've learned that baseball is definitely king - firmly Red Sox Nation but there are enough Yankees fans around to keep things interesting. Generally, when someone finds out you like baseball, they immediately need to know where you fit on the Sox-Yanks spectrum. I'm an Orioles fan - they just get confused by that. They still insist on knowing which of the other two I prefer (Sox - but just barely).
Something just came to mind. Over at Suze's, someone was talking about it being compulsory to love Brian Blessed in the UK. I was wondering if any public figure had that kind of status here in the states.
In the late 70s, where I grew up, it was Thurman Munson all the way. Fightin' words if anyone disagreed. :-)
I don't think you'd get much argument there. I know Sox fans who think the world of Thurman Munson. In Canada, it's Gretzky. I've known Canadians who loathe hockey, but they still love Gretzky. There is no American equivalent to The Great One. Once upon a time, Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong might have fit the bill - no longer. Hank Aaron, maybe? Willie Mays? Bill Russell? Mohammad Ali?
The Malone-Stockton duo is a good one. Obviously, the closest thing basketball has had to a Gretzky - a player whom even non-fans know and revere - is Michael Jordan. He is still probably the most recognizable person in the sport, although he's far from universally liked. The two best current players - LeBron James and Kobe Bryant - have never exactly been warm and fuzzy. Tim Duncan is worthy but his star is dimmer for playing in a smaller market.
Apart from sports, Gregory Peck, in his day, was pretty well adored by everyone - the public as well as his peers.
Gregory Peck is classy and self-possessed. What's not to love? Audrey Hepburn was immediately called to mind as I wrote that and I mentally leapt to a film they made together which was wonderful: Roman Holiday. There was a genteel Barbie outfit in 1959 called Roman Holiday. It's the one on the left. There is so much I never experienced first-hand that I 'miss.' :)
I almost posted this without even clicking on the youtube link... but I had to make sure. Even though I didn't know the name of the official song, I was 99% sure I knew it anyway. I grew up in the shadow of NYC radio and TV, so I heard the instrumental version of this all the time. It was pretty much the "theme song of baseball." Hearing it also meant that I'd soon be hearing Phil Rizzuto's distinctive voice (you know him from the innuendo-filled baseball interlude on Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights"), too! Holy cow! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, you're a New Yorker living deep in enemy territory. I know what that's like. Are you still a Yankee fan or have you converted?
DeleteI really don't follow baseball much these days. I watched a few games in 2003 and 2004, since everyone was talking about the curse being broken and all, but other than that, nah...
Delete(I probably still have the '77 Yankees lineup in baseball cards, though... sans Reggie Jackson, which I stupidly traded away for a massive pile of other cards. Lesson learned that day: quantity does not beat quality!) :-)
Oh, that stinks...
DeleteBefore moving up here, I assumed Vermont was a hockey state. Since, I've learned that baseball is definitely king - firmly Red Sox Nation but there are enough Yankees fans around to keep things interesting. Generally, when someone finds out you like baseball, they immediately need to know where you fit on the Sox-Yanks spectrum. I'm an Orioles fan - they just get confused by that. They still insist on knowing which of the other two I prefer (Sox - but just barely).
Something just came to mind. Over at Suze's, someone was talking about it being compulsory to love Brian Blessed in the UK. I was wondering if any public figure had that kind of status here in the states.
DeleteIn the late 70s, where I grew up, it was Thurman Munson all the way. Fightin' words if anyone disagreed. :-)
I don't think you'd get much argument there. I know Sox fans who think the world of Thurman Munson. In Canada, it's Gretzky. I've known Canadians who loathe hockey, but they still love Gretzky. There is no American equivalent to The Great One. Once upon a time, Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong might have fit the bill - no longer. Hank Aaron, maybe? Willie Mays? Bill Russell? Mohammad Ali?
DeleteHow about Karl Malone and John Stockton? I like them because neither was *The Star.* They were icons because they were insanely great together.
ReplyDeleteThe Malone-Stockton duo is a good one. Obviously, the closest thing basketball has had to a Gretzky - a player whom even non-fans know and revere - is Michael Jordan. He is still probably the most recognizable person in the sport, although he's far from universally liked. The two best current players - LeBron James and Kobe Bryant - have never exactly been warm and fuzzy. Tim Duncan is worthy but his star is dimmer for playing in a smaller market.
DeleteApart from sports, Gregory Peck, in his day, was pretty well adored by everyone - the public as well as his peers.
Gregory Peck is classy and self-possessed. What's not to love? Audrey Hepburn was immediately called to mind as I wrote that and I mentally leapt to a film they made together which was wonderful: Roman Holiday. There was a genteel Barbie outfit in 1959 called Roman Holiday. It's the one on the left. There is so much I never experienced first-hand that I 'miss.' :)
DeleteI love Roman Holiday - timeless classic. The man had range, too. He's a brilliant Ahab in Moby Dick.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the role for which he is most beloved is Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird - best father figure in literature or film:
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passing."
That line gets me everytime.
Squid, tears just leapt to my eyes *reading* the line!
DeleteHarper Lee - one hit wonder.
DeleteThe other can't-miss waterworks movie line for me is from It's a Wonderful Life:
"A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town."
My movie line contribution (originally from The Merchant of Venice): 'So shines a good deed in a weary world.'
DeleteName the 1971 musical adaptation which features the line. (Gets my throat unfailingly salty.)
Oh, thank you. I'm so in love with Shakespeare at the moment.
DeleteThat one's in Wonka.
;)
DeleteHave a great weekend, Squidman.
You, too!
Delete