Wednesday, August 4, 2004 Updated: August 6, 2:33 PM ET
Total Request Live at the ballpark
By Peter Schrager Special to Page 3
A couple of us at Page 3 have spent the summer compiling at-bat music from all 30 major-league teams. Like watching an episode of "The Ashlee Simpson Show," it was a difficult process. But, P3 would like to thank the music people from all the clubs for helping us get this done.
SPORTS & MUSIC
Page 3 will examine the connection between sports and music all summer long. Also, catch SportsCenter's music series all this week at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The anecdotes behind each player's song selections are really worth sifting through. Among my personal favorites:
New York Mets outfielder Eric Valent had never heard of Billy Joel before this season, yet he comes out to a rotation of the greatest hits from the Piano Man. Why? Because an intern with the Mets thought Valent looked like the singer.
Brett Myers of the Philadelphia Phillies is obsessed with ZZ Top. Manny Ramirez comes out to four different songs per game. Two players, Rob Mackowiak and Derek Lowe, actually choose to come out to the cheesy, late '90s techno hit "Sandstorm" by Darude. This stuff fascinates me.
There were some interesting song selections (see below) as well as some glaring omissions on the list. Not one player comes out to the ultra-inspiring "Eye Of The Tiger"; too many players mistake Creed songs as "fan favorites"; and Huey Lewis and The News are nowhere to be found in any this.
Before intramural flag football games in college, I used to pump Rod Stewart's "Young Hearts Beat Free Tonight" to get me riled up. Apparently, the song doesn't have the same effect on major-leaguers ... no one uses it for his entrance music.
Since there is quite a bit of information to digest from all 30 teams, here's an easy-to-follow summary of the data. Next time you are at the ballpark, you can impress your friends by doing two things:
Buy them the first round of $7 beers.
Tell them a little bit about the songs each player selected and why.
"Total Requests Live" Most Requested Song: "Yeah!" by Usher Most Requested Solo Artist: Usher Most Requested Band: Metallica
Most Superstitious Players and Their Music
Roger Clemens, Houston Astros: "Faint" by Linkin Park
Jason Phillips, New York Mets: "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by The Scorpions
Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox: "Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down
David Eckstein, Anaheim Angels: "Busy Child" by The Chemical Brothers
Silence is Golden: No music
Nomar Garciaparra, Chicago Cubs (Info from Red Sox)
Brad Fullmer, Texas Rangers
Jose Molina, Anaheim Angels
Adrian Beltre, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers
Garret Anderson, Anaheim Angels
Bernie Williams, New York Yankees
Southern Pride
Kevin Millwood, Phillies: "Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams, Jr.
Matthew LeCroy, Twins: "The South's Gonna Do It Again" by Charlie Daniels Band
Jason LaRue, Cincinnati Reds: "Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams, Jr.
Mike Mordecai, Florida Marlins: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard"
"American Idol" Wannabees
Reed Johnson, Toronto Blue Jays: "She Bangs" by William Hung
Steve Sparks, Arizona Diamondbacks: "She Bangs" by William Hung
"Wrestlemania"
Jason Giambi, New York Yankees: "The Wolfpack Theme", WCW Wrestling
Matt Stairs, Kansas City Royals: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's Entrance Music
Shout out to My People
Austin Kearns, Cincinnati Reds: "Hell Yeah" by Montgomery Gentry
Mark Prior, Chicago Cubs: "USC Fight Song"
Al Leiter, New York Mets: Mix of Bruce Springsteen hits
Corey Koskie, Minnesota Twins: "Tom Sawyer" by Rush
"I'd Like to Thank the Academy ..."
David Dellucci, Texas Rangers: "The Godfather Waltz" by Nino Rota
Jake Peavy, Padres: "Dukes of Hazard Theme" by Waylon Jennings
Sean Burroughs, Padres: "The El Mariachi Theme" by Alvaro Rodriguez
Jorge Posada, Yankees: The Score From "Scarface" by Giorgio Moroder
Kaz Matsui, New York Mets: "Bruce Lee Theme" by Unknown
"I Love the '70s"
Johnny Estrada, Atlanta Braves: "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind, and Fire
Eric Byrnes, Oakland Athletics: "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps
Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners: Mix of James Brown tunes
Dustan Mohr, S.F. Giants: "Play That Funky Music White Boy" by Wild Cherry
Todd Zeile, New York Mets: "Let It Whip" by Dazz Band
Mic Check 1-2
Oliver Perez, Pittsburgh Pirates: "O.P.P." by Naughty By Nature
Mike Redmond, Florida Marlins:"Baby Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot
Casey Daigle, Arizona Diamondbacks: "Rumpshaker" by Wreckz-N-Effects
Shane Nance, Arizona Diamondbacks: "I Wish" by Skee-lo
Michael Young, Texas Rangers: "Nothing But a G Thang" by Dr. Dre
Page 3's All Star Team of Intriguing Choices Starting Pitcher: Josh Fogg, Pittsburgh Pirates: "Exodus" by Bob Marley To listen:Click here.
Relief Pitcher: Steve Reed, Colorado Rockies: "Midnight Blue" by Lou Gramm To listen:Click here.
Closer: Dan Kolb, Milwaukee Brewers: "Stand Alone" by Godsmack To listen:Click here.
Catcher: Mike Redmond, Florida Marlins: "Baby Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot To listen:Click here.
First Base: Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians: "Du Hast" by Rammstein To listen:Click here.
Second Base: Todd Walker, Cubs: "These Boots Were Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra (Organ) To listen:Click here.
Third Base: Dave Hansen, Seattle Mariners: "Misty Mountain Top" by Led Zeppelin To listen:Click here.
Shortstop: Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles: "Hit 'Em Up" by Tupac To listen:Click here.
Leftfield: Rondell White, Detroit Tigers: "Neva Eva" by Trillville To listen:Click here.
Centerfield: Jeromy Burnitz: "Zombie Nation" by Kernkraft 400 To listen:Click here.
Rightfield: David Dellucci, Texas Rangers: "The Godfather Waltz" by Nino Rota To listen:Click here.
One of ESPN's final 100 "Dream Job" contestants, Peter Schrager recently graduated from Emory University and covers popular culture for Page 3.
