As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB's content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that made baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.
1. Wrigley Field sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
What started with Harry Caray continues today
Harry Caray began singing the seventh-inning stretch while calling White Sox games, but it was during his time in the Cubs’ booth when his rendition of “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” became iconic. Decades after Caray’s passing, people from all walks of life -- and everyone inside Wrigley Field -- have continued what he started. They all end by yelling Caray’s call to action: “Let’s get some runs!”
2. The Phillie Phanatic means Phun
Phillies’ mascot brings laughs, hijinks to the ballpark
One of sport’s most recognizable mascots, the Phillie Phanatic is big, fuzzy, green -- and very entertaining. Supposedly hailing from the Galápagos Islands, the Phanatic has spent decades dancing, having fun with fans, playing jokes on opposing players and managers, revving up the Phillies faithful during pivotal moments in games and much more. And when he’s riding around on his ATV, watch out!
3. Mascot races take over the Majors
Sausages, pierogi and presidents? Oh, my!
You have likely seen a mascot race if you have been to an MLB game over the past 25 years. Many teams have put their spin on the between-innings entertainment that often has a local flair, but a few stand out, such as the Brewers’ sausage race, the Pirates’ pierogi race and the Nationals’ presidents race. You really haven’t lived until you’ve seen giant sausages dash around the warning track.
4. Yankees fans perform the Roll Call
"Bleacher Creatures" shout out their starters
Since the late 1990s, every Yankees home game has started with a Roll Call. In the top of the first inning, fans in the right-field bleachers -- the “Bleacher Creatures" -- go around the diamond and chant each Yankee’s name (minus the catcher and pitcher), and they don’t stop until each player acknowledges them. Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge and countless others in between have heard the call.
5. "Sweet Caroline" is a hit at Fenway
Red Sox fans sing Diamond around the diamond
Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” was near the top of the Billboard charts more than 30 years before it became a Fenway Park tradition. But since 2002, every Red Sox home game has featured the soft rock hit blaring around the stadium before the bottom of the eighth inning. The fans respond by gleefully belting out the lyrics. To Red Sox Nation, the song is so good, so good, so good!
6. Orioles fans put their emphasis on national anthem
“OHHH” say can you … hear them?
“Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave” is the seventh line of U.S.A.’s national anthem. But in Baltimore, the first word of that line is less sung before Orioles games than it is shouted with gusto. The exaggerated “OH!!!” started at O’s games in the 1970s and has only grown in popularity. Today, you’ll hear the stressed syllable at O’s road games and other sporting events around Baltimore.
7. The Homer Hanky is a Twins postseason icon
The towel that contributed to World Series titles
The Twins’ Homer Hanky was introduced in 1987, which was perfect timing as Minnesota won its first World Series title that October. The team’s home-field advantage inside the Metrodome -- highlighted by 50,000-plus rabid fans waving their white hankies with zeal -- certainly helped the cause. Those hankies returned during the Twins’ title run in 1991 and remain a postseason staple in Minnesota.
8. Mets hit a homer? Raise the Home Run Apple!
It’s a big apple in The Big Apple
When in The Big Apple, stop by Citi Field to see a big apple. Mets fans love to see the Home Run Apple; it means a Met just went deep. The sculpture -- a huge, red apple with a Mets logo on the front -- was unveiled at Shea Stadium in 1980. It initially arose out a magician’s hat in center field to symbolize “Met Magic.” A new Home Run Apple -- sans hat -- was installed at Citi Field in 2009.
9. Bernie Brewer celebrates every big fly with a slide
Brewers’ mascot has been sliding since 1973
For more than 50 years, Bernie Brewer has taken a slide for every Brewers big fly. When the club played at County Stadium, Milwaukee’s mustachioed mascot rode a slide into a beer stein after every Brew Crew dinger. Now he slides onto a landing area at American Family Field. Regardless, Brewers fans know something good has happened when Bernie glides down his twisty yellow slide.
10. Angels fans rally behind the Rally Monkey
Primate’s presence was big part of 2002 title run
Do you believe in the power of the Rally Monkey? Angels fans have since 2000, when the club began showing video of a leaping capuchin monkey on the Jumbrotron, often when the team needs to make a comeback. The Rally Monkey’s power and legacy were cemented in 2002, when the Angels won 18 games when trailing in the seventh inning or later en route to the franchise’s first World Series title.
Honorable Mentions
Astros' home run train goes for a ride after every dinger: Watch >
When Cubs win, everyone sings "Go Cubs Go": Watch >
San Diego Chicken a pioneer in mascot world: Watch >
DJ Kitty purring away at The Trop since 2010: Watch >
John Adams, the legendary Cleveland drummer: Watch >
Visiting players in Boston love signing the Green Monster: Watch >
Texas A&M fans chant "Ball 5" after four straight balls: Watch >