When you grow up in or around Chicago, move away, but come back every so often to visit, it’s common to hit a Cubs game, drop by the media booth and lead the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. You wish! But that’s what Evanston-native Ed Vedder does with frequency.
Yesterday, we re-tweeted DirtyFrankDahmr‘s note that EV was singing the song. It was a bit premature as we assumed it was a day game, but the Cubs weren’t playing until hours later. But, a rumor of Ed singing TMOttBG is almost as guaranteed as a show ending with Yellow Ledbetter.
Here are two fan-made videos of yesterday’s event. The first is definitely PJ-slanted (check out the Stickman tattoos) with no Ed video, but the audio is great. The second is a nice Ed-only cam shot. If there is an “official” vid, we’ll link to that too. Also, enjoy others from the past.
July 4, 1998
Ed might be feeling the result of many $7 beers, singing “If they don’t win, it’s a game” instead of “shame”
June 20, 2003
Thanks to StoneIrons (see comments) for the tip. We don’t have audio or video for this one, but it was noted that Ed tries to fire up a Ramones “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” chant at the end.
May 14, 2006
Featuring “Buy me some peanuts and crack” (not “Cracker Jack”)
August 3, 2007
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Hi, the first one does have Ed video, near the end. Just look at the way he greets 2/3 of his family
Ah, that’s true, but I think that is from pre-game or earlier in the day because it’s from on the field. the song is sung (obviously) from up in the press booth.
The “family greeting” portion is from when he threw out the first pitch.
It’s also customary for the guest to appear on the radio broadcast during the bottom of the 6th. I haven’t heard too many people do that this year, however. But Eddie Vedder is an exception, he loves being around former Cub Ron Santo and vice versa. There was some entertaining banter there for the Cub/Pearl Jam fan.
The guest also remains in the tv booth after they sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and is part of the broadcast for the bottom of the 7th. Once again, delightful conversation. This time, however, the Cubs broadcasters were discussing with Ed how much it takes to write a song. This was right after Derrek Lee had hit a double. Ed, in all of his fandom, says that he “could write a song about that double”. Which he proceeded to do. The first couple lines were “D Lee doubled off the green, biggest comeback I’ve ever seen” and then a couple lines about the perpetual hope of a Cub fan. They had screen shots of the words he had written in the top of the 8th.
Unless you get to meet Ed at the game, it’s a real treat to be able to be at home and tune in for the radio and TV broadcasts when he’s in town.
Sorry for my premature reporting about eddie’s appearence! I think I was being tricked by a whiley fan who thought she was being funny, but it went over my head as I’m in NY and not on top of the cubs schedule.
I’m glad he actually was there! I strive to be on top of the latest breaking pj news, but I never imagined I’d become so prolific
Eddie’s voice sounds so different in the first video! His voice has changed a lot over the years, but it still sounds beautiful.
You missed one. He also sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in June 2003.
Thanks StoneIrons! duly noted above
That song was really cool to hear and kinda refreshing because you can’t help it but really think about Chicago experienced in ball games……
BallGames
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