Happy Birthday, 'Take Me out to the Ballgame'!

by Greg Carroll (carroll@wsbt.com)

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Take me out to the ballgame

(WSBT Photo) Legendary Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray's statue sits outside Wrigley Field. Caray is credited with molding the song "Take Me out to the Ballgame" into what it is today. The song turns 100 this summer.

By WSBT Sports

CHICAGO — The song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is as much a fabric of baseball as the home run or the double play. This summer, the jingle turns 100 years old — it's certainly survived the test of America's pasttime! Where better to celebrate it than the place where they do it the best>

Wrigley Field. Home of the Chicago Cubs and the world famous 7th inning stretch featuring "Take Me out to the Ballgame".

"It's the best place for a game, and the best place to sing it," said Janis Thompson to WSBT Sports on location in Chicago.

"It's just a great song, the fans look forward to it every game," said Cubs Mgr. Lou Piniella.

So many different people have led the Confine Crazies, I had an empty Wrigley Field and couldn't resist the opportunity.

A one, a two, a-three ... Take Me Out to the Ballgame -- OK, I'll stop right there in the interest of not breaking anymore windows here in Wrigleyville. But I know that there have been plenty worse than me.

"Ozzy Osbourne — he was terrible," said Mike Anderson.

But he was so bad it was good, right?

"It was a classic," Anderson replied.

"Mike Ditka was terrible," one fan told WSBT Sports.

But he's Ditka!

"I don't care — that's football!" she replied.

"Jeff Gordon called it Wrigley Park or something," Mark Hittle chimed in.

There is some debate as to who did it the worst, but there's no such thoughts on the best.

"A legend started it, and there won't be anyone better than Harry," said Cubs legend Ron Santo.

"He lives in our hearts, he'll never die that's the bottom line. I get tears in my eyes when I look at the statue," said Jean McCarthy.

"Harry is the epitome of the song. It will never be the same, he did it the best," said Doug Lyday.

Happy 100th birthday to baseball's one-and-only anthem!

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