Papelbon's Entrance Music

One of my favorite memories from attending a baseball game, besides watching Bob Wickman’s pregame stretching, was the first time that I got to experience John Smoltz entering a game to shut down the New York Mets for a save. The crowd, including myself, was going absolutely bezerk as number 29 jogged in from right field.

It’s such an adrenaline rush when your favorite team’s closer runs on to the field in the 9th in a tight game. And the MOST important element of this experience is the entrance music. In the case of Smoltzie, AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” would immediately get the crowd’s blood pumping. Sure, Mariano Rivera entering a game is exciting, but would it be as exciting if Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” wasn’t blasting through the speakers? I think not.

Through all of his years with the Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon’s signature entrance music was the appropriately named “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys. Obviously, this song would not work in his new home in Philadelphia, so Pap has chosen “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains as his new entrance music. As much as it pains me to say it, because he is a Phillie, that really is an awesome choice. It has all the necessary ingredients of a good entrance song: the aggressive guitars, the timeless powerful wails of Layne Staley and even some awesomely baseball-related punny lyrics (“man in the box,” “come and save me,” etc.).

So, I say to Mr. Papelbon on his new choice: well done, sir! Although, if it were up to me, he would come out to the theme from “Night Court.”

This is partially due to a retro TV theme song battle with Ben Christensen, Shaun Kippins and Kyle Thompson earlier today that has resulted in this gem of a tune being completely stuck in my head. The song is also a good choice because what gets you more pumped than watching the romantic tension between Harry Anderson and Markie Post? (The answer: nothing!).

By the way, if I were a big leaguer, my walk-up music would absolutely be “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by my favorite band in the world, Metallica. The opening to that song just immediately signals that something important is about to happen. I think that’s why my local Chinese buffet plays it every time I walk through the front door. Anyway, if you were a big-league ballplayer, what would your entrance music be? Tweet it to me @RickyMast or post it on the MLB Fan Cave Facebook page. Seacrest, out!