MIXTAPE: Baseball Opening Day

Attention IFC film buffs--I've got some movie trivia for ya right now. What movie is this quote from: Do you like beisbol?...

Attention IFC film buffs–I’ve got some movie trivia for ya right now. What movie is this quote from: Do you like beisbol?

Do you know?

Have it yet?

Need a hint? Think of Benicio Del Toro in a swimming pool. Give up? He said this line in the movie Traffic.

So I’m asking all of you today, do you guys like baseball? If so, I’m sure you know that today is Opening Day, and what better way to celebrate than to give you a baseball mix? Enjoy!

1. “Centerfield,” John Fogerty
A little cheesy? Maybe, but c’mon, it’s one of the most famous sports anthems, and unlike, say, “We Will Rock You” and “YMCA,” it’s actually about baseball (sung by the man who fronted Creedence Clearwater Revival!).

2. “Glory Days,” Bruce Springsteen
Oh yeah, I went there! He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool.

3. “Heaven,” The Rapture
I know for a fact that frontman, Luke Jenner, is a huge San Diego Padres fan. Not only is this a great tune, but (for the sake of this mixtape) it’s also a subtle reference to the baseball movie Field Of Dreams: “Are we in heaven?”

4. “The Race Is On Again,” Yo La Tengo
Yes, the pennant race is on again, but this tune also comes to us from the most well known indie act named after a baseball reference. ¡Yo la tengo! is how you call a pop-fly in Spanish.

5. “Harvey Haddix,” The Baseball Project
The Baseball Project is a supergroup made up of indie favs: Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon, and Steve Wynn. Not only is their group named after baseball, but they only write songs about baseball. This tune is about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Harvey Haddix, who threw 12-perfect innings of baseball, but ended up losing the game because the buccos couldn’t score any runs.

6. “Pop Goes The Weasel,” 3rd Bass
Every baseball mix needs a good Vanilla Ice diss, performed by a group whose name was inspired by the “hot corner.”

7. “If You Wanna Steal” Anti-Flag
…get a good lead from the bag and take off when the pitcher goes into his windup.

8. “Sorry,” Madonna
What Madonna probably was after her fling with steroid poster boy, Jose Canseco.

9. “I’ll Take Us Home,” Matt & Kim
Assuming Kim’s on base, Matt would be credited with two RBI’s if he made good on his promise.

10. “The Stroke,” Billy Squier
Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays–all the great ones had it. (BTW, did I tell you that Billy Squier is touring this summer!)

11. “Riders On The Storm,” The Doors
I know baseball doesn’t mix well with storms (hence, the dreaded rain delay), but I included this track, because growing up the name of my favorite ball player was: Jim Morrison.