Music and sports have always gone hand in hand. Especially for baseball, with things like popular songs as the player’s walk-up songs and all the pump up songs for the crowds. However, there are certain songs that have become a staple for baseball as a whole, and even certain teams have their own theme song.

Undoubtedly, the most recognizable and popular baseball song is “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” It was written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer. Over the 107 years it has existed, it has become the unofficial anthem of baseball. But it didn’t start that way. The first known time the song was played at a baseball game was in 1934. Before it was sung by vaudeville acts, including Norworth’s wife.

Since its conception, the song has weaved itself throughout popular culture. There have been multiple recordings of the song both by a full orchestra and by popular artists of the time. The song has even become popular outside of North America. Japan, a country famous for the popularity of baseball, has a train line in Japan whose departure melody is “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

In addition to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” many teams have created their own staple song, including the Baltimore Orioles. The song “Oriole’s Magic” is popular in all of Baltimore and known to nearly every Orioles fan. It is a tradition of many fans (whether at home, in the car, at a restaurant) to play the song after the Orioles win a game.

Baseball has always had an important place in North American culture, it only seems to make sense that music be so closely tied to it. Whether it is a century old song during the seventh inning, or the latest pop hit when the center fielder goes up to bat, music will always be an important part of baseball.