A Baltimore Banner story last week was quite a conversation starter for Orioles fans. The story detailed how the team is tinkering with its game day presentation this season, trying different ideas in an attempt to find improve the overall ballpark experience.
Orioles chief marketing officer Mark Fine joined Glenn Clark Radio June 26 and offered some perspective about one particular idea the team has.
“Something that we’ll take a look at in the offseason is that in the middle of the eighth [inning], you have some teams across Major League Baseball — I worked at one of them, I worked at the Mets, where … we added ‘Piano Man’ as a tradition in the middle of the eighth. And in Boston, they have ‘Sweet Caroline.’ That’s not a middle of the seventh, that’s a middle of the eighth. So those are sort of some of the things that we’ll look at.
“I think you’re seeing some teams across sports do that sort of karaoke sing-along like those two songs exhibit and get really into it. I don’t think we expect fans to come to the ballpark and be thinking about those things. But these are things that our group here at the Orioles thinks about because we feel like they make a difference in the overall experience and having a fun time.”
The initial response to this answer was not dissimilar to the initial response to the initial Banner story. I’ll paraphrase. The responses (if I’m putting it kindly) went something like, “The only game day improvement we care about is winning.”
And … yeah. Yes, that’s right. You’re right. The single most significant improvement that can be made to the game day experience at Camden Yards is winning. From ownership down, the Orioles need to be committed to winning. They did not put together a team that was good enough this year and they need to do better.
But this is a walking and bubble gum situation. The folks at Disney World want to create an experience that will be enjoyable even if the weather is bad. And the business folks with the Orioles want to create an experience that can be memorable even if the game doesn’t go your way. Even the best teams in baseball lost between 25 and 30 home games last year.
So I have some thoughts. The first is imperative. Don’t mess with the seventh inning stretch. Much to my colleague Stan “The Fan” Charles’ chagrin, “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” is part of the Baltimore baseball zeitgeist. We share an emotional connection with the song. Win or lose, we sing it together with friends and family. It’s never really made any sense. It doesn’t have to. It’s a touchstone for the entire fan base. When we travel to other places in the world, we connect with each other when we hear the song. Whatever you do otherwise, leave that alone.
There’s a lot of negativity surrounding the idea of an eighth inning karaoke song. I’m actually on board with the concept. I understand we don’t like the idea of copying someone else’s idea. There was a video going around of an Orioles fan attempting a Yankees-style “roll call” at a game last week. It created a visceral negative response and understandably so. That’s a terrible idea. It should never happen. I have no reason to think this was part of the team’s experimentation and it should never happen again.
If the Orioles attempt to adopt an eighth inning sing-along, it shouldn’t be to “Sweet Caroline” or “Piano Man.” But that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own thing that people love and becomes part of the ballpark experience like singing the “oooo-oooohs” in “The Sweet Escape” when Gunnar Henderson comes to the plate.
Singing Blink 182’s “All the Small Things” at Padres games has become an event.
The Padres do it when they’re ahead in the eighth. I like it. I might argue that it makes sense if the game is tied or the team is trailing by a run or two because it can help create a little energy in the crowd with the team coming to the plate. If you’re losing 11-3? Maybe it’s a good day to skip the sing-along.
The argument is that “this needs to be organic.” And to an extent, yes? I love organic. That’s what makes the Bird Bath great. More should be done with the Cow Pasture … or Jackson Holliday’s dog … or Jim Palmer not eating fried chicken. Organic is the best.
But lots of traditions had to start somewhere. A group of Maryland students didn’t show up at the Xfinity Center with an arena-sized state flag to unfurl one day. That happened because they tried something and people responded to it. Was it “organic?” Not really. But it became a beloved part of the game day experience anyway. In 2012, Maryland also tried to start a tradition where everyone would put up a Gary Williams-style first pump when the team reached 22 points (in honor of Williams’ 22 years at the school). That had been voted by students as something they wanted to do! It … did not stick.
So I’m in favor of trying things in the eighth inning and seeing if something sticks! It doesn’t have to be a sing-along. It could be a clip from a movie that fires people up and they enjoy chanting along with (sort of like how the Capitals found something with “Unleash The Fury”). I like the idea of creating something that becomes part of the experience.
Since the Orioles have stated that they’re considering a sing-along, I think it’s likely that they’ll try that first. So what should they try? I don’t know! I was thinking about how successful “All the Small Things” has been in San Diego. Good Charlotte is a comparable band and while they’re not specifically from Baltimore (alas, Waldorf), they’re huge Orioles fans! They have a song so anthemic that it’s literally called “The Anthem.” That could work. Although it’s not QUITE as karaoke friendly as “All the Small Things.” I would actually recommend “Festival Song” because “Tonight, tonight, it’s on tonight” absolutely sounds like a lyric that huge crowds could belt out together. It’s just not quite as ubiquitously popular.
If you want it to specifically be a Baltimore artist, “Bird Flu” by Lor Scoota would be a popular choice. But the subject matter in the hook probably makes it a non-starter. Those of us who are a bit older remember “Whoa Now” by Baltimore’s B Rich. That has serious sing-along qualities but probably isn’t popular enough to work.
Joan Jett’s continued presence around the team makes “I Love Rock And Roll” an obvious choice. I don’t think the Orioles would go for 40,000 belting out “Let Me See That Thong” but Sisqó’s “Thong Song” is probably the single most successful song ever from a Baltimore artist and it STILL SLAPS. I wouldn’t be opposed. But there doesn’t have to be a Baltimore or even an Orioles fan connection. “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” became a thing simply because Mark Belanger liked the song!
If the Orioles go on an 18-game winning streak in July (please?) and the guys are all singing “Pink Pony Club” in the clubhouse (yeah, the Pink Pony Clubhouse is perfect), you’ve got your song.
Try things. See if something sticks. Acknowledge if something happens organically. Create moments. I once flew to Madison, Wis., to watch a Maryland football game. It was bitterly cold and pouring rain in November. Maryland had 56 total yards of offense in the first half. It was miserable. But I stuck around to “Jump Around” with the crowd. Because being part of a moment is cool even when your team isn’t playing well.
I want the Orioles to fix their problems on the field. And their sound system. But I’m in favor of the club trying to create more electricity at the ballpark in other ways, too. And for it to happen organically, it doesn’t hurt to let them know what you think would be a good idea.
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