[Historic Americana] [Baseball] Norworth, Jack. (1879 - 1959) & Tilzer, Albert Von. (1878-1956)
Take Me Out To The Ball-Game
New York: The York Music Co.. 1908. First edition. Uncommon true first edition of the celebrated song. Illustrated wrappers printed in black and pale blue, inset portrait of Sadie Jansell. 5 pp. All first issue points according to Fuld. Scattered light browning and spotting, edges worn and with a 2-inch separation at spine.Written in 1908, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is Norworth’s most long-lasting hit, although he didn’t see a Major League baseball game until 1941. Norworth wrote the lyrics when he passed the Polo Grounds on an elevated train and saw a sign that read “Baseball Today.” The song was first sung by his wife Nora Bayes and popularized by various vaudeville acts. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was the number one song in the country for seven weeks in 1908, the longest for any song that year, even though it didn’t chart until October 31, after the 1908 baseball season ended. The song is now traditionally played during the seventh inning stretch during major league games. (10295)
Printed Music Song