Seventh Inning Stretch

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Lore & Background

The origin of the seventh-inning stretch tradition is much disputed, and it is difficult to certify any definite history. One claimant is Brother Jasper (Brennan) of Mary, F.S.C., the man credited with bringing baseball to Manhattan University in New York City. On one particularly hot and muggy day in June 1882, during the seventh inning against the Metropolitans—then a minor league team—the Prefect noticed his charges becoming restless. To break the tension, he called a timeout in the game and instructed everyone in the bleachers to stand up and unwind. It worked so well he began calling for a seventh-inning rest period at every game. The Manhattan University custom spread to the major leagues after the New York Giants were charmed by it at an exhibition game.

In Their Own Story

In modern baseball, standing up and singing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' during the seventh-inning stretch is a popular tradition. It was first played at a ballpark at a high school in Los Angeles, California in 1934. The composers, Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, had both never attended an actual baseball game prior to writing this popular song. Norworth only attended his first Major League game much later in 1940. The practice gained exceptional popularity from broadcaster Harry Caray. Caray would sing the song to himself in the broadcast booth during the stretch while a play-by-play announcer for the Chicago White Sox. After hearing him sing one day, White Sox owner Bill Veeck Jr. had Caray's microphone turned on so that the ballpark could hear him sing. When Caray moved into the Chicago Cubs broadcast booth, he continued the practice, sparking what has become a Cubs tradition by regularly leading the crowd in singing the song in every seventh-inning stretch.

Reader's Guide

At Pirates home games, the Seventh Inning Stretch is a communal moment where fans stand, stretch their legs, and sing together. This tradition has remained constant through every era of Pirates history, from the brick walls of Forbes Field to the modern skyline view at PNC Park. Whether in the roaring crowds of the 1960s or the family-friendly atmosphere of today, the moment the band strikes up the familiar melody, the stadium unifies. It represents a shared heritage where fathers pass down songs to sons amidst the backdrop of the Allegheny River. The continuity of this custom symbolizes the enduring spirit of Pittsburgh baseball despite roster changes and stadium relocations over nearly a century. Fans are encouraged to stand and participate actively when the music begins, often singing along with the stadium band. The band typically plays from the field or dugout area, setting the tone for the collective sing-along that echoes through the stands.

Did You Know?

• The composers of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, had both never attended an actual baseball game prior to writing the song. Norworth only attended his first Major League game in 1940.
• The first documented playing of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' at a major league ballpark was in 1908 or 1910, earlier than previously thought.
• Broadcaster Harry Caray popularized singing the song during the stretch; he originally sang it to himself in the broadcast booth before White Sox owner Bill Veeck Jr. turned on his microphone so the ballpark could hear h
• The term 'seventh-inning stretch' appears in print as early as 1869, contradicting earlier claims of no written record before 1920.
• One origin story involves President William Howard Taft standing up to stretch on April 14, 1910, at a game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics, causing the crowd to join him.