Nothing says summer like baseball.* Well, maybe watermelon, BBQing, and strawberry pie also say a lot about summer in the United States, but this post is about baseball!

Baseball is a true American sport, although some say the origins of this game are back in England with the game of cricket. It is Americans who first loved this game, called it their own, became big fans, and then shared it with the rest of the world in the form it exists in today. As you may know baseball is now a very popular sport in countries like Japan, Korea and the Dominican Republic, and throughout Central America.

In the United States the baseball season runs right through the summer months, which is why this sport is so associated with summer in the United States. With 162 games per team throughout the professional baseball season, it is not hard to find a baseball game to go and see. Most people don’t want to just go see any team play though, they want to see their home team play…and win. Just like in all other sport, baseball fans are strong supporters of their home teams.

Going to see baseball game during the summer months is such a big part of the America experience there is even a songs written about it. This is a song about going to baseball games that most American learn as children and this song is even played at many baseball games, usually a little over half-way through the game (in the 7th inning). I have written the lyrics to this song , called Take Me Out to the Ball Game, below for you to see. There are explanations of what certain terms or phrases mean below. Now, let’s play ball!

Take me out to the ball game, 


Take me out to the crowd, 


Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack,**

I don’t care if I never get back.



So it’s 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 ballgame.

Here is a video where you can hear this song sung.

*This is a common English expression “Nothing says summer like __________.” People often fill in the blank with many different idyllic summer activities and food.
**Peanuts and crackerjacks – roasted peanuts and crackerjacks, which are caramel covered popcorn, are traditional snacks sold at baseball games.
***root – to cheer
****In baseball, when it is your turn to use the bat you get 3 chances to hit the ball, if you miss hitting the ball with the bat, that is called a strike. When you have three strikes you are “out,” which means your turn is over.