Topic: Country Blues about Baseball?

[Rivers]

Musically, yes I agree, for a start McTell starts the rap phase with a Dm position, not a C. The general lyrical idea and title are a thorough cop from McTell though. To be pedantic though  it's not St James Infirmary, since that is usually a minor song as well.

[lindy]

When Ken Burns was putting together his nine-hour (get it?) documentary on Baseball, he said he was amazed that he couldn't find any other songs on the topic that everyone could relate to besides "Take Me Out To the Ball Game." He said all of the others were novelty tunes about topics of the day, such as Les Brown's swing tune, "Joltin' Joe Dimaggio," which was a big hit when Joe was in his 56-game hitting streak. 56 games, still can't believe it. For that reason, the Burns' documentary has something like 50 or 60 different renditions of "Take Me Out" playing in the background. One version, done in a Merle Travis style, still sticks in my mind. Here's your chance to write a classic CB version of the song.

Lindy

[lindy]

Found this after I posted my last message, the lyrics to Joltin' Joe Dimaggio (1941):

Hello Joe, whatta you know?
We need a hit so here I go.
Ball one (Yea!)
Ball two (Yea!)
Strike one (Booo!)
Strike two (Kill that umpire!)
A case of Wheaties

He started baseball's famous streak
That's got us all aglow
He's just a man and not a freak,
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio.

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

He tied the mark at forty-four
July the 1st you know
Since then he's hit a good twelve more
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

From coast to coast that's all you'll hear
Of Joe the one man show
He's glorified the horsehide sphere
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

He'll live in baseball's Hall of Fame
He got there blow by blow
Our kids will tell their kids his name
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

We dream of Joey with the light brown plaque
Joe, Joe DiMaggio
We want you on our side

And now they speak in whispers low
Of how they stopped our Joe
One night in Cleveland Oh Oh Oh
Goodbye streak DiMaggio


And get this, kids: the name of one of the two writers of the song was -- I am not making this up -- Ben Homer. Gotta love it.

Lindy

[Bunker Hill]

ARGH SOMEBODY DONE MOVED THE TOPIC WHILST I WAS COMPOSING A REPLY. I'M GOING TO THE PUB!

[Johnm]

Oops, sorry Bunker Hill!  I moved your post over to the new thread so that it addresses what it was attended to address.  I was pretty hasty with that split-off.
all best,
Johnm

[longboardsurfing]

While not blues, Chuck Brodsky has a great collection of baseball tunes on his cd Baseball Ballads.

[outfidel]

Hey Jon -

Check out Baseball's Greatest Hits and have a listen to "The Ball Game" by Sister Wynona Carr as well as "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" by Count Basie.

Also, Bob Dylan's "Catfish" (about Catfish Hunter) is acoustic & bluesy, but imho it's neither his best song nor the best song about baseball.

[dj]

Of course, we're all proceeding under the assumption that you have to perform an existing song.  The other option is to write one of your own.  Grab a melody and start setting down some lyrics, like:

When Satchel Paige is on the mound, he will make the batters dance
Satchel Paige is on the mound, he will make those batters dance
When he gets two strikes on 'em, they won't even stand a chance

He'll walk the bases loaded but he'll take it all in stride
He will walk the bases loaded and he'll take it all in stride
He'll just rear back with his fastball and he'll strike out the side

And on and on...

Just google Negro League Baseball for players and biographical details.

[Flatd7]

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions as always. I'll keep you posted if this comes to be. Really dug the old Brownie Roby-Doby number. More of a Wynonie Harris sort of Jump Blues, but some fun lyrics and subject matter.

[Richard]

Memphis Minnie sings of going on the game in Hustlin' Woman Blues 1935

I'm goin' to the quarter bowl, see what I can find
I'm goin' to the quarter bowl, see what I can find
And if I make a hundred dollors I will bring my daddy ninety-nine

[Bob B]

Pat Donohue does a tune called "Touch 'em all" that is a tribute tothe late Kirby Puckett.
Again, this is not a country blues, but is worth listing.

Bob

[uncle bud]

Hey Jon, too late I suppose, but I found a baseball song by Minnie Mathes called Ball Game Blues. It's a slightly jazzy sounding 12-bar blues and can be found on the Document CD Blue Ladies 1934-1941. She's accompanied by Buster Bennett on alto sax, Charlie McCoy on mando, Willie Bee James, gtr. Not a particularly interesting song, but it's about baseball. At least, I think it's about baseball:

Ball Game Blues - Minnie Mathes

Today is a rough day (our off day?), let's play a game of ball
Today is a rough day (our off day?), let's play a game of ball
Now, pitch to me, daddy, so I can catch them all

I'll be your catcher, I'd like to see you wind and throw
I'll be your catcher, I'd like to see you wind and throw
[    ][      ] daddy and don't throw the ball too low

Throw in my mitt, daddy, now throw to the one you love
Throw in my mitt, daddy, now throw to the one you love
Now throw it in the name of the good Lord up above

When it come [    ] daddy, let me wipe your bat for you
When it come [    ] daddy, let me wipe your bat for you
So when you knock your line driver, you won't break your bat in two

You are my pinch hitter now we got all the bases full
You are my pinch hitter now we got all the bases full
If you strike out you don't mean me no good

[rjtwangs]

There is a cd of all baseball related songs from Bob Dylan's radio shows on XM, his Theme Time Radio Hour. Tracks like 'Baseball Boogie' by Mabel Scott, 'Home Run' by Chance Halladay, 'Baseball Baby' by Johnny Darling, 'The Ball Game' by Sister Wynona Carr and my favorite, 'Say Hey(the Willie Mays song) by the Treniers With Willie Mays!!!

RJ