The Feminist Origins of Baseball's Iconic Anthem 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'

The baseball anthem 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' contains an overlooked feminist history dating to its 1908 creation. Lyricist Jack Norworth and composer Albert von Tilzer wrote the song during a dramatic baseball season when the Chicago Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Their waltz became an instant vaudeville hit, with millions of sheet music copies sold featuring portraits of performers like Edward Meeker. The song's protagonist Katie Casey was an unusually assertive female character for the era, described as knowing all players by name and challenging umpires. Music expert George Boziwick suggests vaudeville star and suffragist Trixie Friganza, who had an affair with Norworth, may have inspired Katie Casey. In 1927, Norworth revised the lyrics, changing the character to the less assertive Nelly Kelly. Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly performed this version in the 1949 film 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.' The song transitioned from vaudeville to ballparks after organs became common in stadiums during the 1940s-1960s. Baseball music specialist Susan Clermont notes the song's unusual lyrics celebrated women's baseball passion before they had voting rights. Today, the chorus ranks among America's three most recognized tunes alongside 'Happy Birthday' and 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Harry Caray began the tradition of singing it during seventh-inning stretches at Chicago games fifty years ago.