Phillies: Top 5 Songs We Miss Hearing at Citizens Bank Park
It’s been a while since we have been at a Phillies game; here are the top five songs we always enjoy and miss hearing at Citizens Bank Park.
When Philadelphia Phillies fans go to baseball games, there is much more to the experience than just watching nine players take the field and hoping they score more runs than their opponent to win the game.
RELATED | Phillies news: Commissioner Rob Manfred ‘hopeful’ for season
The sights, sounds and ambiance of the entire fan experience at Citizens Bank Park perfectly complements the game-watching experience. From walking down Ashburn Alley, grabbing a sandwich or hot dog, watching batting practice or bullpen sessions, you name it.
One visit to ballpark is hardly the same as another. But, there are some things that remain the same that we have grown to love and appreciate over the years. Among those is the ballpark music. Here are the top five songs at Citizens Bank Park that we all are missing right now with the 2020 season behind on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Take Me Out to the Ball Game
“Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don’t care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the [Phillies],
If they don’t win it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game.”
How many times have we heard “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”? Certainly more than we can count. The classic organ rendition at Veterans Stadium and now Citizens Bank Park makes it that much better.
We heard its lyrics time and time again, and its very first two line we wish could hold true in current times: “Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd.”
The thing is, we are not sure when this will hold true again. Crowds and sports, or any social gathering for that matter, are currently up in the air due to guidelines. Baseball is eying a return in some form, with among its stipulations being no fans allowed inside the ballparks.
We all would love to be bought peanuts or Cracker Jack. We all would love to root for the home team.
However, if there will be any rooting in 2020, it will have to be from afar.
2. High Hopes
“Next time your found
With your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned
So look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant
But he’s got high hopes
He’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time your gettin’ low
‘Stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant”
Late great Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas provided fans the voice of summer for decades. His unexpected passing in 2009 left a tremendous hole in the hearts of generations of fans.
We were so used to turning on the television or dialing the radio to hear Harry’s voice when it came time for the Phillies game. Then, all of a sudden, it got taken away from us without notice.
While Harry is no longer with us, the Phillies have made a point to continue to honor his legacy. Along with his statue installed near the “Harry the K’s” restaurant in left field, the organization has made a tradition to play his iconic “High Hopes” rendition after every team win at Citizens Bank Park.
The lyrics of Harry’s rendition of the Frank Sinatra song speak true to the then-state of the team. Amid “Red October” postseason baseball, Harry made it a point to sing the song as a way to let fans know that he, too, had high expectations for the team. And, finally, they came through for the second time in franchise history in 2008, besting the Tampa Bay Rays.
The song says that even know everyone know ants cannot possibly move a rubber tree plant, the ant still has high hopes and confidence in the “sky.” The song urges you to never give up, and, instead of letting go, to just “remember that ant.”
Harry, we still remember that ant. We still remember you. We still remember the Phillies’ magical 2007-11 postseason run. And this song will forever be synonymous of a high hopes of the Phillies fan.
3. MFSB – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)
It’s 6:30. You are stuck in traffic on Route 42, trying to get over the Walt Whitman Bridge, pay your toll and parking fee, and make it inside Citizens Bank Park.
A part inside of you wants to get past the turnstiles in time just to hear this classic Philadelphia soul song, played as public address announcer Dan Baker welcomes fans to Citizens Bank Park.
As the song kicks into the loud speakers around the venue, Baker would say: “Good evening and welcome to Citizens Bank Park for National League baseball between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. …”
“TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” was released in 1974 by MFSB, featuring The Three Degrees vocals.
Written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the song served as the theme for the Soul Train television show; it became so popular, it was the first theme song ever from television to reach atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It also reached No. 1 on the American R&B chart and adult contemporary chart.
Unlike the previous songs so far on this list, this classic hit is mostly an instrumental of strings and horn instruments. The only lyrics include: “People all over the world!” and the chorus “Let’s get it on/It’s time to get down”.
A part of what hearing this song every time at Citizens Bank Park is great, is that is carries on a piece of musical history across generations of fans. Disco surely has not reached the Billboard charts for quite a while now, and young fans just learning to understand the game might have never heard its genre had it not been for TSOP playing over the loudspeakers.
The song is only ever heard at the very beginning of the Phillies’ in-stadium “show,” yet it essentially serves as the team’s theme song for the soon-to-come game, as it did for Soul Train decades ago.
4. Starting Lineup Song
So, we have heard The Sound of Philadelphia, have our hot dogs, game programs, etc. purchased, and are in our seats ready for 7:05 p.m. to come.
One of the last pre-game items on the Phanavision entertainment agenda is announcing the starting lineups around the time lineup cards are exchanged at home plate.
Public address announcer Dan Baker takes the mic near home plate, announces the away team’s starting lineup, and then, this song begins to play:
This song is unique in that we usually do not hear it by itself, only underneath the Hall of Fame-worthy voice of Baker as he announces the Phillies’ starting lineup. The song does not have a known name, as it is a mashup of existing classics, including Elton John’s Philadelphia Freedom.
As part of MLB’s #OpeningDayAtHome social media campaign, Baker announced in a fun video the team’s potential, would-be starting lineup with this song playing. Hopefully, fans will be able to hear the song once again in-person.
5. Home Run Song
Last but not least, the home run song. Another way late great broadcast Harry Kalas is remembered is by having his iconic “This ball is outta here” phrase played after each home team home run.
We had plenty of home runs to celebrate at home during the 2019 season, especially from the Phillies’ new superstar outfielder Bryce Harper.
After the home run and the playback of Harry’s call on the loudspeakers, usually what follows is a special “home run” song, similar to songs played after NHL teams, like the Flyers, score a goal.
These songs can change from year to year, but 2019’s EDM-style rendition surely did not take long to become engrained in our minds and appreciated by all.
So, from “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” to “High Hopes,” “TSOP,” the starting lineup song and the home run song, there surely are a lot of memorable tunes heard at Phillies games from start to finish.
Of course, who could forget the National Anthem? Although, this list focuses on songs that are unique to Phillies games, specifically.
What song is your favorite? What one do you miss the most?
If fans are not allowed back in the stadium in the 2020 season, it will be long overdue to hear these classics once again at Citizens Bank Park come March or April 2021.