The seventh-inning stretch is an odd tradition, so where did it originate? This ritual is shrouded in mystery, but most accounts attribute it to a muggy day in 1882, when the players as well as the fans were getting a little restless. The coach of the Manhattan College team called a time out between the two halves of the seventh-inning and instructed both teams and the spectators to ‘unwind’. Apparently it worked so well he kept on doing it and after an exhibition game, attend by the New York Giants, the tradition spread to the major leagues, and it’s been a tradition ever since. Didn’t knew you were participating in a 127 year old tradition, did you?
Along with providing relief to stiff and sore muscles, music is generally played during the seventh-inning stretch; which song depends on the he team and stadium. A popular choice is, of course, Take Me Out To The Ball Game. Some teams that choose to stray from or add on to tradition:
Milwaukee Brewers,"The Beer Barrel Polka,", surprise.
Baltimore Orioles often play the John Denver song "Thank God I'm a Country Boy,” we can’t fathom why either.
Houston Astros play “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” we could have put money on that one, after “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.
The Angels of Anaheim play “Back in the Saddle Again”, in honor of their founder Gene Autrey, bet ya didn’t know that, huh?
The New York Yankees play God Bless America, after “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”; this tradition was begun after the attacks on September 11th.
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