To celebrate that connection, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is featuring sports memorabilia and displays on baseball-associated songs such as Meatloaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” in its exhibit,Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks!Open now through Sept. 28, the exhibit examines the tie between baseball and rock ’n’ roll — two deeply rooted American traditions.
“They’re both a pop culture phenomenon,” explains assistant curator Meredith Rutledge. “Exploring the relationship between the two deepens the understanding of our culture.”
Baseball’s tie to music in general reaches far back into the history of the game. “Baseball was first identified as ‘America’s pastime’ in a song,” Rutledge says, adding that some popular piano music from the early 1900s was written about baseball.
Today, rock’s relationship to baseball is as strong as ever. It’s used to energize fans and accompanies batters on their walks to home plate. Here’s the music that gets some of our Indians pumped for a big game.
Victor Martinez
Favorite artist:
Mexican band Maná, Linkin Park, Metallica and Motley Crüe, George Strait, Bruce Springsteen and Metallica .
Home plate song:
“Todo Comenzó Bailando,” by Frankie Ruiz
Travis Hafner
“Du Hast,” by Rammstein
Hot Mix
Got that techno song that accompanies Franklin Gutierrez’s walks to home plate stuck in your head? We do, too. Just for fun, we asked Ryan Pritt, the audio coordinator for the Cleveland Indians, to list the songs that Tribe batters and pitchers request accompany their appearance on field:
Grady Sizemore
“The Trance Is The Motion” by Static X
Ryan Garko
“The Boss” by Rick Ross
“When You Were Young” by the Killers
Ben Francisco
“Rock Boyz” by Jay-Z
“Made You Look” by Nas
David Dellucci
“Symphony of Destruction” by Megadeth
“Devil's Dance” by Metallica
The Godfather Theme Song
Jamey Carroll
“Superhero” by Jane's Addiction
“Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp
“Ants Marching” by Dave Matthews Band
Kelly Shoppach
“Come With Me” by Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page
“Save A Horse” by Big and Rich
Franklin Gutierrez
“Love Is Gone” by David Guetta
Fausto Carmona
“Stronger” by Kanye West
Jake Westbrook
“Small Town” by John Mellencamp
Jeremy Sowers
“Driver's Seat” by D.H.T.
“Pot Kettle Black” by Wilco
Paul Byrd
“Shine” by Collective Soul
Cliff Lee
“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by the Smashing Pumpkins
“Rocket” by the Smashing Pumpkins
Rafael Perez
“Lo Que Paso, Paso” by Daddy Yankee
Aaron Laffey
“Breathe Into Me” by R.E.D.
Jhonny Peralta
Nothing. Jhonny prefers silence
