LISA NESTOFF | guest writer
Unlike other APU sports teams, members of Cougar baseball have the unique opportunity to blast their favorite song as they step up to the plate or out to the pitching mound. Not only does the song selection allow the players get pumped up about the game, it expresses a side of their individuality not commonly found on the fi eld.
Ever since “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” became the unoffi cial anthem of baseball in 1908, the sport has been defi ned by its music. The sound of an organ echoing throughout the stands during a game is as traditional to baseball as the hotdogs and team apparel.
Within the past decade, the game has strayed from its roots to take advantage of one modern technological device in particular—the CD player. Unlike the organ, the CD player offers each member of the team the ability to choose his own song clip to play as he either prepares to bat or pitch. Now, instead of hearing just the generic baseball songs throughout the game, the fans are entertained by a collection of song clips, each personally chosen by the players to show a small part of each individual. No matter what league or level of baseball, a player typically selects his song for one of four reasons.
The fi rst reason is simple—the player just likes the song. If he enjoys the music that plays as he goes up to bat or pitch, he is more likely to be in a better mood when it is his time to shine.
The next reason a player chooses a song is to get fi red up. Upbeat or intense music is often picked to get the player mentally warmedup for the game.
Sometimes, the baseball player hears his name or part of his background in a song and wants that clip to be played during the game.
Finally, a player might choose a song because it showcases one of his skills or a part of his personality.
In major league baseball, one of the most common at-bat songs is “Yeah!” by Usher and one the most popular bands played is Metallica. This shows that most MLB players select their song because it pumps them up, not because of any personal references in the song.
The Cougar baseball team has shown more spice and variety in their songs than that of the major leaguers. Junior pitcher Matt Stone gets himself ready for the game by listening to a clip of “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys because it energizees him up as he walks out to pitch.
Sophomore fi rst baseman Brice Cutspec has a clip of Boston’s hit “More Than a Feeling” play as he goes up to bat. “This song pumps me up, I love it,” Cutspec said.
Junior infi elder Ryan Dowell is one of the few Cougars that listens to a rap or hip-hop song while he is at-bat. Dowell chose an Obie Trice song because he really likes the beat. Junior pitcher Scott Thur makes sure that The Who’s classic, “Baba O’Riley,” is blasted as he walks out to pitch.
“I chose this song because I really like it plus it’s long enough for a good intro,” Thur said.
Senior second basemen Grant Beyer listens to Linkin Park as he steps to the plate. The song “No More Sorrow” gets him ready as he is about to bat.
Finally, Kirk Nieuwenhuis chose the Metallica classic “Enter Sandman” as his atbat song. “I picked ‘Enter Sandman’ because it’s my favorite song,” Nieuwenhuis said.
Other popular bands and artists that can be heard from the Cougar baseball fi eld include Rise Against, Disturbed, Kenny Chesney, T.I., Coheed and Cambria, and Guns N’ Roses.
Each genre of music has a different effect on the athletes minds as they get ready to pitch or bat. Slowly, hip-hop is gaining ground among baseball players throughout every league. Players want to be energized by their songs and find that hip-hop is the way to go to warm-up their body and mind. Rock and metal music has a similar effect on the athletes. This genre of music pumps the player up to give his best performance, which is why the band Metallica has been such a popular selection. Classic rock and country music often relax the players and put him in a good mood to play. These genres bring the game back to its roots.
No matter the genre, Cougar baseball players choose the song that fi ts them best to be played as they walk out to perform in each game. This shows how baseball is, and will always be, a sport highly distinguished by its music.
