Baseball Music Project sets summer concert dates, cities

At the mention of the word “baseball,” you think Big League Chew, sunny summer days and that crack of the bat as one goes flying out of the park. But what about, you know, music? Here at Paste, it's our job to think about all things in the context of music, and the glorious combination of two of our favorite things actually happens more often than you might think.

Case in point: The Baseball Music Project. Back in 2004, a group of music professionals with “a nearly uncontainable love and passion for both baseball and music,” got together with the goal of informing everyone else on how the music of our culture reflects our nation’s favorite pastime.

Their website states that there are, in fact, four major collections of baseball music in libraries across the United States. Also, almost a thousand songs have been written over the years about baseball. But before rushing to iTunes to make a baseball-season playlist, think about root, root, rooting for the home team on a road trip instead.

In 2006, The Baseball Music Project teamed up with The National Baseball Hall of Fame and symphonies around the country to create a sort of orchestral-baseball experience, complete with narration by Hall of Famers and a tribute to all of its 259 members. The concerts cover everything from J.R. Blodgett’s “The Baseball Polka,” to music from Field of Dreams. And, of course, a requisite ”Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sing-along is always included.

Baseball Music Project at bat:

May
3 - Fox Valley Symphony in Appleton, Wis.

July
1 & 2 - Boston Pops in Boston, Mass.

August
8 & 9 - San Diego Symphony in San Diego, Calif.

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