Yankee fans?

[jmc_bks]

Went to the O's-Yankees game today with T. He's a Yankee fan, but I love him anyway -- he's given up smoking and drinking, so keeping that bad habit is forgivable ;) Anyway, we sat amongst the many, many NY fans who flock to Camden Yards from all over when NY is in town. Next to us was a young couple who had driven down from northern New Jersey; he was trying to teach her about baseball and she was humoring him; she really didn't care and wasn't interested in learning about the game. The guy was appalled that neither God Bless America nor Take Me Out to the Ball Game was played during the seventh inning stretch. Uh, no. It's always John Denver's Thank God I'm a Country Boy [don't even get me started about what I think about the song, it isn't a favorite of mine . . . but it would be weird to attend a game at Camden Yards and not hear the song, because it is an expected part of the game by now.]. Sometimes followed by Take Me Out to the Ball Game, but not always. So Young NY Fan was all up in arms and saying it was un-American not to hear/sing the two songs he's used to; in fact, he told me that in all of his 22 years, he didn't think he'd ever heard of other songs being played during the seventh inning stretch. Well, clearly he hasn't been to Baltimore before. But this got me thinking -- I didn't think GBA was sung regularly at baseball games until immediately after September 11th. And I'm not sure it is still done anyplace other than in New York.

The only other place I've been to a baseball game is in Chicago, where I believe YMCA and Take Me Out to the Ball Game were played.

Any Yankee fans who've attended games at Yankee Stadium, can you confirm my recollection re: GBA? Or correct me, if it was sung prior to 9/11?

Other baseball fans, what plays during the seventh inning stretch in your hometown? GBA? TMOTTBG? Something else?

Thanks, in advance :)

Comments

[kateroth.livejournal.com]

a gazillion years ago, I used to go to games at Fenway. Nothing but Take Me Out To The Ballgame at the 7th inning stretch time.

and another observation ...

[kateroth.livejournal.com]

After 911, the concerts at two of my kids' schools started with the national anthem and ended with God Bless America. Last concert we went to had neither. What a relief! I have to admit that when I hear those songs in places other than the ballpark or maybe a parade, I don't feel patriotism, I get a flash of the kid singing "tomorrow belongs to me" in Cabaret. Nationalism--no matter the country--scares the bejabbers out of me.