As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, children urge their parents to run outside, play catch and go to a baseball game. On Friday, April 18, "The House That Ruth Built" will celebrate its 85th anniversary. On that day in 1923, more than 74,000 adults and children cheered the New York Yankees, their new stadium and Babe Ruth as he used his magic bat and hit a game-winning three-run homer into the right field bleachers. Fred Lieb, reporter for the New York Evening Telegram gave the new stadium its nickname "The House That Ruth Built".
A number of tunes are associated with the sport including Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Yankee's Revenge, Baseball Game and Baseball Kids. Richard Adler and Jerry Ross wrote a Faustian themed musical comedy Damn Yankees which ran on Broadway for 1,019 performances in the 1950's. It is noted for its memorable song "Whatever Lola Wants".
1908, the year in which the Westport Public Library opened on the Post Road, is also the year that Take Me Out to the Ballgame was written by Albert von Tilzer and Jack Norworth. Although the composer and lyricist never attended a game, it became the unofficial theme song of the sport.
"Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."