Take Me Out to the Ball Game, But Why Am I Standing?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Most of us have been there, and hopefully stayed, through the seventh inning of a baseball game. We find our seats, peruse our game program, organize our food and become immersed in the sights, sounds and actions of a ball game. We follow along, rising and falling in conjunction with our team or favorite player. Maybe some of us are just people watching, enjoying treats and soaking in the relaxing atmosphere of an afternoon at the ball park.

But regardless of our interest or devotion to the actual game, we all rise together after the first three outs of the seventh inning.

* Remember, there are six outs in an inning of baseball!

Despite the many different factions of people attending the game, despite the varied and diversified interests of the fans in the stadium, each of us focuses our attention for this short moment.

It just has to be done. It overcomes baseball strategy, conversing with other fans, filling out our scorecards and even hypnotizes young fans into becoming one with the whole stadium.

The seventh inning stretch is here and we are on our feet. Some of us raising our arms, some stretching their legs, adjusting our clothes but all waiting for the first notes to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

So why are we on our feet and how did this get started? 

The most popular explanation seems to trace back to 1910 and President William Howard Taft. He is sometimes credited with beginning two traditions on that Opening Day in Washington. So after throwing out the ceremonial  first pitch before the game, President Taft settled his massive 6'2", 300 pound frame into a seat to enjoy the Senators and Philadelphia Athletics. At the midway point of the seventh inning, he rose out of his seat and in respect to the President standing, or maybe even leaving (boo), the rest of the stadium rose as well.

However, a story exists from 1882 at Manhattan College that may shed earlier light on the tradition. Brother Jasper was the Prefect of Discipline and the baseball coach. As he managed the team during the game, he was also responsible for the behavior of the students. During the seventh inning of a game one day, Brother Jasper noticed his students had become restless and somewhat unruly. He requested time out and had everyone in the bleachers stand up and unwind. Receiving the results he wanted, Brother Jasper repeated this strategy every game in order to give his team a quick rest and his students quick relief. As Manhattan's nine often played in the park of the National League New York club, the practice caught on with Giants fans.

Looking further, we find literature from 1869 when Harry Wright of the Cincinnati Red Stockings described the fans rising between halves of the seventh inning "to extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about." He wrote that it provided relief and relaxation from the "long posture upon hard benches."

So although it appears the seventh inning stretch is at least as old as 1869, we really have no idea where or when the custom originated. But at least 143 years later, we all still rise as one after those first three outs of the seventh inning. We sing, we stretch, we relax and at least one of us reminisces about why we are doing this. Anybody who was attending any of those games in 1910, 1882, or even 1869, please let me know...until then I will wonder forever.

All this because I know more about nothing...