After an inspirational trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame with my Dad in December, I’ve had a ball researching songs written about baseball and sharing them with music people I know that also love baseball. Baseball songs celebrate the odd characters, the great players, and the beauty of America’s pastime.
These talks (which I like to call rambles) have laid the groundwork for a new music project that will launch soon after opening day (which should by the way be a national holiday). At the heart of my new project is curating and sharing the most compelling songs about baseball.
Stay tuned!!
In the meantime, if you are a Spotify user, click below to access my “Baseball Gems” playlist.
After grappling (another word I use for procrastination) with where to start, I decided on the story of right-handed pitcher Dock Ellis. Ellis played most notably for the Pittsburg Pirates (where he was an All-Star in 1971), New York Yankees (he won Comeback Player of the Year in 1976 helping the Bronx Bombers will the pennant) and half-dozen other teams.
In 1971 – 1972, Dock Ellis was one of the best pitchers in baseball with 34 wins, 16 losses and 2.85 ERA. Over his 11 year career, Ellis was 138-119 with a respectable ERA of 3.46 and 1,136 strikeouts.
Why start the baseball music project with Dock Ellis?
I can’t think of anyone else that has at least four songs, one very entertaining documentary, and a hilarious comedy skit dedicated to them.
Why so much attention to Dock Ellis?
Well.. in case you didn’t know…
On June 12, 1970, Doc Ellis pitched a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD. Yes, he was tripping.
Ellis walked eight batters and struck out six in the no-hit effort. The circumstances surrounding the game are best shared in a crazy entertaining short film called No-No (less then 5 minutes long) by filmmaker James Blagden.
It is a must-watch… click the box below.
Robin Williams HBO skit “Weapons of Self Destruction” is also a great watch.
THE SONGS
My favorite song on Dock Ellis is “America’s Favorite Pastime” published in 2009 by one of today’s most authentic Americana troubadour artists, Todd Snider.
Click below on the YouTube box to listen.
I was introduced to Todd Snider in 2014 through the “backdoor” of another band — Hard Working Americans, featuring Dave Schools of Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools, and the late Neal Casal of Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Since embracing their self titled debut album (pic below) during my time in New Orleans (click here for that story), I have fallen hard for Todd Snider.
He is the absolute perfect musician to write about Doc Ellis.
The second song about Doc’s crazy no-no was written and performed by the “king of baseball songs” Chuck Brodsky called “Dock Ellis’ No No”. Brodsky has written more songs about baseball than anyone.
His “Letters in the Dirt”, which pays homage to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Dick Allen, is one of the best baseball songs of all-time.
Take a listen to Chuck’s tune, which includes a pre-amble ramble about the song…
The third on Doc Ellis is a punk tune by Barbara Manning released in 1993. Her music video includes some “artsy” images of Doc and the game.
The last tune on Doc Ellis I will mention (and there are more) is by The Baseball Project, a supergroup composed of REM’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills.
While it is not the greatest song, I love the words…
Now we all know the story
Of what Dock Ellis did
How he threw a no-hitter
When he took a little trip
That was amazing and true
Though it was somewhat accidental
But let’s not forget the game
When Dock really went mental
The Pirates season was humbling
They came out of the gate stumbling
Dock had had enough
In the clubhouse, he was grumbling:
“Cincinnati is treating us
Just like a dog kicked to the curb
Well, this dog’s got some bite left
And it’s gonna hurt”
Down went Rose, down went Morgan
Down went Driessen, he took one right in the organ
Dance, dance, dance, dance, Tony Perez!
Then two at Johnny Bench, that was enough for the Reds
Yeah, it really happened that way
That’s what really happened the day
Oh, the day Dock went hunting heads
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