Baseball season is underway, and with it, we get our first looks at the song each player has chosen to play as he steps into the batter’s box or takes the mound. Earlier this season, one of our baseball beat writers rated the walk-up songs of the UConn baseball team. In the weekly sports roundtable, the DC Sports staff shares what their walk-up songs would be…and yes, “Old Town Road” is a strong possibility.
Matt Barresi, Staff Writer
U Conn Husky, symbol of might to the foe.
Fight, fight Connecticut, it’s victr’y, let’s go
Connecticut U Conn Husky, victr’y again for the white and blue
So go, go, go Connecticut, Connecticut U. Fight!
C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I C-U-T. Connecticut,
Connecticut Husky,
Connecticut Husky, Connecticut C-O-N-N-U. Fight! (repeat)
Just kidding. Probably whatever the latest Drake banger is.
Neil Simmons, Campus Correspondent
I’d go with “My Hero” by Foo Fighters. Something about Dave Grohl on the guitar gets me fired up and ready to run through a brick wall. The chorus is easy to sing along to and I can easily imagine the crowd belting out “There goes my heroooo, watch him as he goes” as I walk up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth ready to end the game.
Sean Janos, Staff Writer
Give me “Mainstreet” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. Seger is probably better known for his hit “Old Time Rock & Roll,” which I also strongly considered, but “Mainstreet” just strikes a different chord with me. It opens with a catchy and extremely groovy guitar riff that would definitely get me in the zone to hit a dinger. If you don’t know this song, look it up.
Conner Gilson, Campus Correspondent
Before 2k, before FIFA and before The Show, there was “Backyard Baseball.” And everyone who has played any Backyard Sports game knows the best player in every game is that short, pudgy latino kid with the most hype walk-up song of all time. When you hear Pablo Sanchez’s song, you know something special is about to happen. The extreme nostalgia factor plus the fact that just listening to this song as you approach the plate makes you an absolute stud makes this the top option for my walk-up song.
Danny Barletta, Campus Correspondent
Few guitar riffs in the history of rock music are as recognizable as the intro of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. I think two of the most important qualities of a walk-up song are being recognizable to the crowd and being upbeat, and this song checks both boxes. The screaming guitar paired with the heavy drum beat would get everybody in the stadium up on their feet, and it would also get me pumped up before my at bat. I can’t think of a better song to play while I’m walking up to the plate.
Jorge Eckardt, Staff Writer
There is only one right answer for me, and that is the Friends theme song. Whenever Wilmer Flores (I miss you) would come to the plate at Citi Field, the energy in the stadium would always triple. From the very first note, “I’ll be there for you” just gets you excited for whatever is coming next. Then, after the first line (“So no one told you life was gonna be this way”), the four claps that follow are mirrored by everyone in the ballpark, creating an atmosphere like nothing ever seen before.
Oh, by the way—they were on a break.
Story Salit, Campus Correspondent
“Old Town Road” is a song that has captivated audiences with all different tastes in music and I wouldn’t mind walking up to home plate while hearing the crowd singing along to what has become far and away the hottest song in the country. The roots of baseball lie in small towns and rural sandlots in neighborhoods across the country, yet the modern game has become increasingly diverse in terms of racial and socioeconomic diversity of its players. Lil Nas X beautifully blends traditional country and folk lyrics with modern rap style, a combination that truly represents the culture of baseball’s past with its present and future. I would guaranteed bat 1.000 if this was my walk-up song every time I was up to hit.
Stephanie Sheehan, Managing editor
I’m late to the party here and I’m genuinely shocked nobody has suggested this yet. Imagine walking into the ballpark. You sit down with a hot dog covered in whatever condiment you want (should be relish though). It’s an overcast night but it’s warm. Suddenly, “Africa” by Toto starts playing and you’re signing along and banging the seat in front of you to those absolutely killer 80s drums as the entire stadium sings “IT’S GONNA TAKE A LOT TO DRAG ME AWAAAAAAAY FROM YOUUUUUUUU” in unison while that guitar is shredding in the background. I’m telling you, nothing brings people together like an 80s song, and “Africa” is no ordinary 80s song. It has literally transcended generations, something baseball is struggling to do right now. This would genuinely, singlehandedly change baseball. Discuss.
Kevin Arnold, Staff Writer
I initially wanted to put some real thought into this, really look through my library and find my “perfect” walk-up song, but I didn’t. The one song that kept coming back to me is Chance the Rapper’s “Cocoa Butter Kisses.” Since I first heard it back in high school, it has been one of my favorite songs of all time. I think hearing Chance’s squacks and ad-libs over top the church organ would keep me calm and present while I’m taking my hacks.
