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Walk-Up Songs: Top 20 Tunes That Get Baseball Players Pumped for Play
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
20. Mitch Williams
'Wild Thing,' X
Getty Images, Amazon
It was Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, Charlie Sheen's character from the movie 'Major League,' that inspired the use of actual recordings for player walk-ups. In the 1989 film, Sheen's reckless relief pitcher entered games to 'Wild Thing,' a 1965 frat-house hit for the Troggs later covered by punk band X. The now-retired Williams inherited the "Wild Thing" nickname when pitching for the Arlington, Texas Rangers and song because of his own knack for out-of-control fastballs.
19. Derek Jeter
'Square Dance,' Eminem
AP, WireImage
This selection by the New York, N.Y. Yankee shortstop was more of an announcement than anything else. After breaking out of a horrible slump that earned him boos in the Bronx, Jeter had this track cued up so that his arrival at the plate coincided with the line, "People, it feels so good to be back."
18. Ben Zobrist
'The Tree,' Julianna Zobrist
J. Meric, Getty Images, Tampa Bay Rays, Getty Images
Tampa Bay, Fla. Devil Rays fans might have been miffed when they watched the switch-hitter step up to the plate to this Christian song featuring Sarah McLachlan-like vocals. But he had good reason for it: He wanted to stay married. The performer is his wife, who had a musical career before they were married.
17. Gordon Beckham
'Seek and Destroy,' Metallica
Getty Images (2)
The Chicago, Ill. White Sox infielder had gone with the Outfield's 'Your Love,' a soft '80s love song, since his days playing college ball in Georgia. Then he fell into a slump. On the advice of teammate Paul Konerko, he switched last year to this rowdier metal song, and his average improved 80 points.
16. Jonathan Pabelbon
'I'm Shipping Up to Boston,' Dropkick Murphys
Getty Images, Redferns
When the Boston, Mass. Red Sox clinched the American League East title in 2007, pitcher Jonathan Papelbon took to the middle of Fenway Park and performed a celebratory Irish jig to the Dropkick Murphys' I'm Shipping Up to Boston.' Ever since, the Red Sox closer has entered the field to the same rowdy anthem.
15. Nick Johnson
'Party in the USA,' Miley Cyrus
Getty Images (2)
When he was with the New York, N.Y. Yankees, the journeyman DH/first baseman shocked his teammates by choosing this tweenie bopper favorite. But he had a good excuse: It was his 4-year-old daughter's favorite song.
14. Mark Teahan
'Baby,' Justin Bieber
Getty Images (2)
The Chicago, Ill. White Sox hitter told reporters that he first chose this song -- about a boy with a broken heart --because he knew teen sensation Bieber was in the crowd. "The Bieber thing kind of started out as a joke," he said. But how does that explain the fact that he also had the song on his iPhone?
13. Mark Teixeira
'I Wanna Rock,' Twisted Sister
Getty Images, Redferns/Getty Images
There's no great story behind the New York, N.Y. Yankee first baseman's decision to go with this '80s hard rocker by Twisted Sister. In fact, his reasoning is best explained by the song's title. "Most people like that loud, get-you-going type of music," he told ESPN.com. "And we're at a baseball game, we're not at a tennis match, so I like it loud and fun."
12. A.J. Pierzynski
'Bullets,' Creed
Getty Images (2)
Initially the Chicago, Ill. White Sox catcher went with a song by early rapper Kurtis Blow called 'AJ Scratch' -- because the name "AJ" is mentioned 11 times. But as a Pierzynski fell into a slump, he scratched that tune and gave 'Bullets' a shot because he's friends with Creed.
11. Tom Gordon
'Flash,' Queen
Getty Images, AP
Before he retired, this 20-year veteran went with an obvious choice. 'Flash' was written for the movie 'Flash Gordon,' about a super hero who shares a name with the flashy ex-pitcher from Kansas City, Mo. Royals. Other players with songs that played off their name: David Wright ('The Right Stuff,' New Kids on the Block); Brian Wolfe ('Clap for the Wolfman,' the Guess Who); Matt Holliday ('Holiday,' Madonna) and Jeff Weaver ('Dream Weaver,' Gary Wright).
10. Cliff Floyd
'The Streetbeater' ('Sandford & Son' Theme), Quincy Jones
Getty Images (2)
On the suggestion of teammate Paul Lo Duca, fielder Floyd, then a with the Queens, N.Y. Mets, chose this '70s TV theme song, which he said had opposing teams cracking up. "It's fun and it lightens the mood a little bit," he told the Record of Bergen County, NJ. Good thing Lo Duca didn't suggest the not-so-light 'M*A*S*H' theme, 'Suicide is Painless.'
9. Trevor Cahill
'White Rabbit,' Jefferson Airplane
Getty images (2)
The Oakland, Calif. Oakland Athletics pitcher's choice of music made sense for two reasons: Both his team and Jefferson Airplane hail from the Bay Area, and the song is mellow -- which fits his not-so-overpowering style of pitching. But the real reason the song grew on him? It was featured in a Vietnam War video game he played as a kid.
8. Torii Hunter
'Dinnertime,' Lil' Wayne
Getty Images (2)
Apparently, Hunter's baseball skills were once questioned because this hip-hop song resonated with him over the lines "They say I couldn't play baseball at all/And now every day of my life I ball." As the Los Angeles, Calif. Angels outfielder told SI.com: "When you're looking for a walk-up song, you try to pick up something that's dear to your heart."
7. Alex Rodriguez
'Already Home,' Jay-Z
Getty Images, WireImage
When you're a high-profile, well-paid athlete who dates famous women, people are going to want you to fail. So, as a way to acknowledge his haters, the future New York, N.Y. Yankee Hall of Famer began the 2009 season with this number, which begins, "Oh, they want me to fall/fall from the top."
6. Takashi Saito
'Hey Jude,' The Beatles
Getty Images (2)
During Saito's rookie season, his Los Angeles, Calif. Dodger teammates tricked the Japanese reliever into singing this Paul McCartney epic in the locker room. Fortunately, Saito was familiar with the song, having been forced to sing it in college as part of a farewell for graduating seniors. Despite his broken English, Saito impressed his teammates with his vocals, so it made sense to introduce him with his karaoke smash.
5. Juan Pierre
'Deja Vu,' Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z
Getty Images (2)
Around 7:30 a.m. on a day in 2006, Pierre awoke to an excited call from his sister, who'd just heard the part in 'Deja Vu' in which Jay-Z raps about her brother: "I used to run base like Juan Pierre; Now I run bass, the hi hat and the snare." Pierre, who had previously used a song by a little known Louisiana artist, quickly changed his tune. "I didn't even think Jay-Z would notice me," the then outfielder for Chicago, Ill. Cubs told the Chicago Tribune. "Because I'm not like a superstar who's always on 'Sports Center.'"
4. Tim Lincecum
'Break on Through (To the Other Side),' The Doors
MCT, Redferns/Getty Images
With his long hair and lanky frame, the San Francisco, Calif. Giants' ace is a throwback to another time, so it's fitting that he would choose this 1967 song. Besides being a fan of Oliver Stone's biopic about the Doors, Lincecum has a personal connection: Doors frontman Jim Morrison once bumped into Lincecum's father -- a Doors fan himself -- as Morrison bounded through the crowd at a Seattle concert.
3. Brian Barton
'A Change is Gonna Come,' Sam Cooke
Getty Images (2)
Songs with strings and a French horn don't generally get athletes pumped up. But Barton, then a St. Louis, Mo. Cardinals outfielder, chose this song because it had meaning. Inspired by Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind,' Cooke wrote this song about racism in 1963. "It teaches patience through all the ups and downs," Barton told the Riverfront Times in 2008. "Whether it's on the field or in society, you have to have hope and faith that things will turn around." Now if only things could turn around for Barton, who has been in the minors the past two years.
2. Trevor Hoffman
'Hell's Bells,' AC/DC
Getty Images, WireImage
As relief pitcher Hoffman prepared to match the all-time consecutive saves record in 1998, the San Diego, Calif. Padres entertainment department decided it would be fun to have him enter the game to this 1980 AC/DC song. Hoffman tied the record the first night they played the song, but -- despite another AC/DC intro -- blew a save the following outing. Still, the song became synonymous with Hoffman, the tune's ominous bell intro signaling the arrival of baseball's most fearsome closer with every outing. "It's not a song I'd want to hear in church," Hoffman told the San Diego union-Tribune in 1998. But, later, he noted that it did get the crowd riled up. "It's just loud, that's all."
1. Mariano Rivera
'Enter Sandman,' Metallica
Getty Images, AFP/Getty Images
Seeing the success of Trevor Hoffman and 'Hell's Bells,' Yankee stadium personnel decided relief pitcher Rivera needed his own anthem. So they brought in a bunch of CDs and tested the different songs, settling on 'Sandman,' which garnered the best audience response. Ironically, Rivera said he doesn't even listen to metal. "I listen to Christian music," he told the Daily News in 2006.
- Filed under: The Hit List
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Add a Comment
wow what a bunch of crappy songs. There is no way in hell I would play any of these songs at my kid's high school gmaes. Justin Bieber and Miley Cirus?????? How funny.
June 13 2011 at 10:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jennifer
As a Rays fans, I have two things to say...Ben Zobrist using his wife's song is one of the sweetest things in the world, and he truly adores his wife. Secondly...how can this list be complete without including Evan Longoria using the intro to "Down and Out"? When that blasts across Tropicana Field, it is on!!!!
March 30 2011 at 9:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
g
um J.J. Putz's AC/DC Thunderstruck anyone?
March 30 2011 at 7:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Tom
scrolling down the list, I KNEW Mariano's tune was going to be #1. Nothing like it in baseball, ahhh, bring on opening day tomorrow!
March 30 2011 at 4:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
maryann
Uh, Excuse me, but I know that Crazy Train by Ozzy played for Chipper Jones should have been up there!!!!
March 30 2011 at 4:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
johnny simancas
DAVID ORTIZ : MERENGUE ELECTRONICO
March 30 2011 at 3:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Tom
Thanks for stirring a wonderful memory. I attended many a Padre home game during the 1998 season and remember very vividly how the crowd would go nuts when Trevor made his entrance. In fact, the build up to that point included the anticipatory buzz that ran through the crowd as we could see him begin his warm-up routine in the bull pen during the 8th inning followed by his slow jog to the mound in the 9th inning with Hells Bells pounding over th P.A. system. The frenzy reached it's peak as they played "the bells" between the batters who represented the first and second outs and then between pitches when Trevor pitched to the batter who almost always represented the 3rd and final out. It was amazing to be part of ... more energy and excitement than I can begin to describe. I know that it was the best sports fan experience I've ever enjoyed. Too bad the Yanks swept us in 4 but still the 1998 season is one any Padre fan will never forget. to.
March 30 2011 at 3:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Royalsfan
FYI - The Royals are in Kansas City, Missouri - not Kansas.
March 30 2011 at 3:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
rftulie
???? Everyone in Boston and most in Red Sox Nation know that Papelbon walks in from the bullpen to "Shipping Up to Boston," by the Dropkick Murphys. Where did those other song titles come from?
March 30 2011 at 3:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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