As baseballs traditions go, this one isn't as steeped as the seventh-inning stretch but it is tied to it.
The ceremonial standing in the middle of the seventh inning for a singalong of "Take me out the ballgame," "Cotton Eye Joe" or "Sweet Caroline" vary by the crowd. But in most every ballpark in America, however, we sing "God Bless America."
Baseball only embraced the Irving Berlin classic in the post-9/11 era. In Atlanta, Opera singer Timothy Miller's rendition of "God Bless America" has become a popular Sunday home game staple for the Braves.
Last week, New York Daily News columnist Gersh Kuntzman called for reclaiming the seventh-inning stretch with a ban of "God Bless America" in baseball.
He wrote:
Part of my outrage stems from ponderous Mussolini-esque introduction of the song, when fans are asked to rise, remove their caps and place them over their hearts.
Reality check, friends: "God Bless America" is not the National Anthem. The only songs Americans should stand for are "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Here Comes the Bride."
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The song still embodies great things about America, but also our worst things: self-righteousness, forced piety, earnest self-reverence, foam.
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If you want to thank God for blessing America, you can do it on Sunday in the other church.
To note, the New York Daily News also called for the ban of several sports traditions, including the kiss cam, mascot races and playoff beards. So, really, stick to just the game.
So, what say you? Vote in our poll.
