To mark the start of baseball season, Fine Tuning presents the Top 25 MLB Walk-Up Songs. Why 25? Because that’s the number of players on an active MLB roster, of course.
For those who are unfamiliar, when a home team batter walks to the plate or pitcher takes the mound, a song of the player’s choosing is broadcast over the stadium’s PA system. It’s an opportunity for players to flash a little personality and have some fun. For example, last season the Oakland A’s right fielder, Josh Reddick, was mired in a horrific hitting slump when, in a move smacking of desperation, he decided to change his walk-up song to George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.” As a rabid A’s fan, I can tell you it was a real crowd-pleaser when he strode to the plate — not infrequently, it was the highlight of the game, the crowd swaying in unison to that mellow saxophone groove from yesteryear. Immediately after switching to “Careless Whisper,” and I mean literally that night, Reddick went on a hitting tear and credited his change in fortunes to George Michael. As do I, but I still cannot bring myself to include “Careless Whisper” in the Top 25.
This list is compiled from a survey of MLB walk-up songs conducted by designatedhits.com. I can’t vouch for its accuracy, although it seems to have nailed the A’s players. As for the team with the best taste in music? As an A’s fan, it pains me to say that it's hands down the Detroit Tigers. I have to tip my cap: Led Zeppelin’s “Traveling Riverside Blues,” “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys, “In Bloom” by Nirvana, and “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes? Wow. And some of the Tigers’ walk-up songs that didn't make the playlist include The Black Keys’ “I Got Mine,” “Grey Street” by Dave Matthews Band, and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Kind of makes me want to catch a Tigers home game. On the other end of the spectrum is the Texas Rangers. The highlight of an outing to their home park is “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne. I can only assume Rangers fans don’t go to the park for the music.
25. “Heartache Tonight” by the Eagles; Mike Carp (Nationals) 24. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash; Andrew Miller (Yankees) and Madison Bumgarner (Giants) 23. “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys; Ian Krol (Tigers) and Zack Wheeler (Mets) 22. “In Bloom” by Nirvana; J.D. Martinez (Tigers) 21. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes; Jose Iglesias (Tigers) and Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) 20. “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix; Brian Matusz (Orioles) and Tom Wilhelmsen (Mariners) 19. “Know Your Enemy” by Rage Against The Machine; Logan Forsythe (Rays) 18. “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin; Huston Street (Angels), Chase Utley (Phillies) and Sean Marshall (Reds) 17. “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones; Ike Davis (Athletics) 16. “Fortunate Son” by Credence Clearwater Revival; Dustin Ackley (Mariners) 15. “Wake Up” by Rage Against The Machine; Aroldis Chapman (Reds) and Kyle Lohse (Brewers) 14. “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Pete Kozma (Cardinals) 13. “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line; Matt den Dekker (Nationals) and Cliff Pennington (Diamondbacks) 12. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana; Travis Snider (Orioles) 11. “Traveling Riverside Blues” by Led Zeppelin; Josh Wilson (Tigers) 10. “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Mike Moustakas (Royals), Aaron Harang (Phillies) and Bronson Arroyo (Diamondbacks) 9. “Crying Blue Rain” by Jimi Hendrix; John Jaso (Rays) 8. “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses; Eric Sogard (Athletics) and Craig Kimbrel (Braves) 7. “Sympathy For The Devil” by the Rolling Stones; Jerry Blevins (Mets) 6. “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin; Jayson Werth (Nationals) 5. “Alive” by Pearl Jam; Clint Barnes (Padres) 4. “Badlands” by Bruce Springsteen; Jake Peavy (Giants) 3. “Texas Flood” by Stevie Ray Vaughan; Will Middlebrooks (Padres) 2. “Baba O’Riley” by The Who; A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) 1. “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin; Trevor Plouffe (Twins)
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