32 Best Baseball Walk-Up Songs

“For it’s one, two, three strikes—you’re out—at the old ball game!” You know the song written way back in 1908 ...

“For it’s one, two, three strikes—you’re out—at the old ball game!”

You know the song written way back in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, but how well do you know walk-up songs?

Baseball walk-up songs have long solidified their rightful place in sports tradition. Like many of baseball’s superstitions and folklore, the staple of the walk-up song is to be respected. Fans and players alike take the songs seriously. Ball clubs have even been known to get into Twitter wars over a player’s song choice! (Strike one?)

If you want to get to know some players a bit better, here is a list of their favorite baseball walk-up songs.

Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin

Baseman Joey Wendle uses Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ for his walk-up anthem. This blues-inspired single is one of the band’s most popular hits. Robert Plant sings to a woman he’s yearning for behind heavily distorted production and an intense drum track. This tune appears on their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II.

Related: See more songs about longing for someone.


Dangerous – Ying Yang Twins ft. Wyclef Jean

Ying Yang Twins’ song ‘Dangerous’ is one of baseball players’ more popular walk-up songs. It’s an emotionally-charged tune made to get people on their feet. It is the perfect hype song to use for an introduction. It was produced by Wyclef Jean, and the track features him as well.

Related: Welcome the weekend with these songs about Friday night.


Enter Sandman – Metallica

Pitcher Mariano Rivera loves coming out on the field to Metallica’s metal hit, ‘Enter Sandman.’ The song has become so intertwined with Rivera’s career that many doubt anyone else will ever use that song after him when playing a game at Yankees Stadium. Metallica’s track tells the mythical story of “the sandman,” who creeps into your nightmares as you sleep.

Related: Check out our list of the best karaoke songs for men.


Big Poppa – The Notorious B.I.G

Hitter David Ortiz’s walk-up song is none other than Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Big Poppa.’ B.I.G.’s song features him rapping about his skills with the ladies and in the club. The crowd goes wild when they hear the song because they know Ortiz, also known by the nickname Big Papi, is about to take the stage.


Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Fans and players alike take Baseball walk-up songs quite seriously. ‘Paranoid’ by Black Sabbath is another popular pick for ball clubs. It’s a driving tune that creates nervousness in the crowd and the opposing team. Though the single is a favorite among Black Sabbath fans, it’s not one of the band’s favorites. They’ve previously admitted that it served as a filler song on their 1970 album.


Thunderstruck – AC/DC

AC/DC, an acronym short for the different currents of electricity (hint: we use alternating current), felt ‘Thunderstruck’ was the perfect song to go along with the band’s theme of “power.” Written about a time two bandmates’ plane was struck by lightning and almost crashed, the high-energy nature of the track makes for a great walk-up song.

Related: Get hyped with the best pump-up songs.


Black Betty – Ram Jam

‘Black Betty’ is a popular walk-up song and a key song the Yankees play at their stadium during important events. Ram Jam’s version of this early rock-blues song is the most popular cover. Many players, including Ranger’s baseman Ian Kinsler, pitcher Mike Timlin, and player Darin Erstad, have all previously used the song during games.

Related: Head over to our playlist of songs with female names.


Boogie Nights – Heatwave

This groovy ’70s hit has been used several times by players. It’s a feel-good disco track about dancing the night away in a crowded club. The tune was featured in the hit film Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta. The term “boogie nights” became a popular phrase during the groovy ’70s era, and Mark Wahlberg starred in a movie by the same name in the ’90s about disco culture.

Related: Enjoy the vibes with our playlist of happy party songs.


Bad Blood – Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar

Who says guys don’t listen to Taylor Swift? Several baseball players, including the Cub’s Anthony Rizzo and MLB outfielder Andrew McCutchen, love blasting T. Swift’s ‘Bad Blood’ when it’s their turn to take the field. When an observer made fun of Rizzo on Twitter for his song choice, Rizzo hit a three-run home run immediately after. The Cubs tweeted back to the guy, viewing Rizzo’s outstanding performance as instant karma.

Related: Need more Taylor? See our list of Taylor Swift songs.


Flex Ooh Oh – Rich Homie Quan

Rich Homie Quan’s hit single is the perfect “flex song.” Players have used this hype tune for its party-inspired production and lyrical swagger. Though Quan has guest-appeared on several rap hits, ‘Flex Ooh Oh’ was his first hit under his own name and appears on his mixtape, If You Ever Think I Will Stop Goin’ In Ask Double R.


Your Love – The Outfield

The outfielder for the Colorado Rockies, Charlie Blackmon, chose The Outfield’s ‘Your Love’ as his signature baseball walk-up song. This 80s chart-topper features a singer trying to seduce a woman by using every trick in the book. It’s a fun-loving typical 1980s pop hit that’s a sure crowd-pleaser at home games.


O Fortuna – Carl Off / Carmina Burana

Angels Pitcher Noah Syndergaard can be classified as something of a renaissance man. While many players pick club hits and heavy metal tracks for their walk-up songs, Syndergaard chose a 13th-century poem set to music as his anthem. Though the piece began as a poem, in the 1930s, a German composer combined the words with music as part of his Carmina Burana classical collection. The lyrics focus on a warrior-inspired epic tale.

Related: You can find this song on our playlist of famous opera songs.


Pony – Ginuwine

Jack of all trades player Chase D’Arnaud has used singer Ginuwine’s mega-hit ‘Pony’ as his walk-up song for several teams. Fellow rap/R&B artist Timbaland helped compose and produce the tune. It features an eager protagonist singing to his lover as he tries to seduce her. It’s a song that never fails to get people amped up and ready to party.

Related: This one also appears on our best 90s R&B songs playlist.


Here Comes the Boom – Nelly

Outfielder Randall Gritchuk uses Nelly’s rap song ‘Here Comes The Boom’ at home games for the Cardinals. Also featured on the soundtrack for the football-themed movie The Longest Yard, this classic dynamic Nelly track is a popular sports anthem. It’s a good walk-up song since Nelly raps about being at the top of his game.

Related: Celebrate your victory with these champion songs.


Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy’s hit song ‘Crazy Train’ is a track that goes perfectly with high stakes scenarios like baseball games and has also been used for football teams, including the New England Patriots. Former Atlanta Braves player Chipper Jones was so notorious for using the song during his 19 years playing that the Braves released a special edition bobblehead of him that also played Ozzy’s hit.

Related: Choo choo! All aboard our playlist of songs about trains.


‘Til I Collapse – Eminem

Even though Eminem never released the empowering track as a single, it is one of his most used songs and a definite fan favorite. Pitcher Justin Verlander loves to hype himself up to Eminem’s ‘Til I Collapse’ while on the mound. A powerful song about fighting for what you want until your last breath, it makes for a great walk-up tune.


Hustlin’ – Rick Ross

Boston Red Sox hitter and outfielder J.D. Martinez picked ‘Hustlin” by Rick Ross as his go-to walk-up song. This infectious early 2000s hit features Ross rapping about falling in love with the grind every day and working towards a goal tirelessly. Rick Ross’s real name is William Roberts, and the song is about the notorious kingpin he named himself after for his rap persona.

Related: Spend your commute listening to these work songs.


Party Up (Up in Here) – DMX

Part club tune, part hype tune, DMX’s ‘Party Up (Up in Here)’ makes for a great walk-up song. With savage lyrics and a beat people can dance to, many players have chosen this song as a way to get the crowd rowdy while they warm up. Chicago White Sox pitcher Joe Kelly loves to use this song while on the mound.


Can’t Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers

This is one of the most popular walk-up song choices of all time for players. Some even joke that every team has at least one guy using ‘Can’t Stop’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With an industrial-feeling, garage rock vibe and Anthony Kiedis’ commanding vocals, players like Anthony Rizzo love blasting this hit through stadium speakers as they run onto the field.


Hip Hop Hooray – Naughty By Nature

Baseball legend and outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. famously used this creative song while strutting onto the field. A cheeky take on the old-timey slang phrase “hip hip hooray,” rap group Naughty By Nature reinvented the saying while rapping about giving a toast to their favorite musical genre, Hip hop.


Danza Kuduro – Don Omar And Lucenzo

Known as the Mets’ “closer,” pitcher Jeurys Familia like many players in 2018, chose this Spanish-inspired tune as their designated walk-up song. Singer Don Omar’s commanding baritone voice and the bouncing beat never failed to get fans pumped for Familia’s field appearance. With ‘Danza Kuduro’ playing and the game in Familia’s hands, fans knew they were about to celebrate another win.


Load Up the Bases (The Baseball Song) – Whiskey Falls

Baseball teams the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies used former band Whiskey Falls’ baseball-themed tune ‘Load Up the Bases’ for promotional materials. It’s a song with a swagger-filled protagonist bragging about how well he will perform during the upcoming game and how much he loves baseball. The lyrics featuring popular sports jargon and a heroic main character resonate with fans, making it the perfect walk-up song.

Related: Find this song on our playlist of baseball songs.


Blow the Whistle – Too Short

Yankees’ third baseman Josh Donaldson has used Too Short’s ‘Blow The Whistle’ as his walk-up song. Produced by rapper Lil John, the song features whistle-blowing as a signal to get ready for what’s to come. Not only has the tune made the rounds in baseball since its release in the early 2000s, but basketball teams have also used the song during games.

Related: Whistle while you work with the best whistling songs.


Centerfield – John Fogerty

The former Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon once said that when he heard Fogerty’s song ‘Centerfield,’ he felt like it was written for him. A moving song about the love of the game and the hopes and dreams that come along with playing in the majors has become an inspirational song directly associated with baseball’s biggest events over the years.


Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks has used Stevie Wonder’s classic hit Superstition as his theme song. It’s a great crowd pleaser but is also in harmony with baseball’s long history of game superstitions. Some famous player superstitions include hitters who name their bats for good luck, players who wear two different socks and waiting for the lucky showerhead in the locker room post-game.

Related: Listen to more of the all-time greatest songs.


La Romana – Bad Bunny Feat. El Alfa

Outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. loves to walk out onto the field, hearing ‘La Romana’ coming through the speakers. This catchy tune by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and Dominican artist El Alfa features them as two bad boys playing with fire. This song is the duo’s second collaboration and sticks to their tried-and-true themes of success, women, and money.

Related: Rake in the dough with the best songs about money.


Seven Nation Army – White Stripes

If you’re a sports fan of any kind, chances are you’ve heard the White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ a time or two. Marching bands even love to play it during college football games. Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg has chosen this chart-topper as his walk-up song several times.

Related: Go to our playlist of more songs with good bass lines.


Flower – Moby

Also used in a popular fitness challenge, Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper uses Moby’s ‘Flower’ as his opening song for every game. Moby sampled the song and created his own rendition by using pieces of an old African-American tune, ‘Green Sally Up.’ The historic tune also has ties to a British children’s song, as well.

Related: Spend time in the garden with these songs about flowers.


California Love – 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre

Kenley Jansen, the closer for the L.A. Dodgers, didn’t have much of a choice when picking out his walk-up song. ‘California Love,’ a song that goes hand-in-hand with sports fans’ love of L.A. teams, is the perfect fit for the much-loved Jansen. 2Pac’s iconic tune featuring producer Dr. Dre is constantly listed as one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.

Related: Love the Golden State? Listen to the best songs about California.


Humble – Kendrick Lamar

‘Humble’ is one of Kendrick Lamar’s most-streamed songs. This club hit is a popular walk-up song constantly chosen by many players, including well-known athletes like Manny Machado. A song about a guy at the top of his game demanding respect, it gets the players and fans equally amped up when played.

Related: Go to other classic songs about respect.


This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan

Now retired baseball legend Derek Jeter spent more than 20 years on the same team, no small feat to accomplish in the MLB. For his first major league game with the New York Yankees in the early 1990s, he requested Montell Jordan’s ‘This is How We Do It’ to be played as his walk-up song. Though he didn’t do well for his first game, he made up for it over the next two decades with countless wins and impressive stats.


Song 2 – Blur

No one ever knows the lyrics to this ’90s hit which also goes by the name ‘Whoo- Hooo.’ With screaming guitars and a garage-band vibe, the group wrote it to make fun of the emo-grunge scene that had taken over underground American music scenes at the time. Though it started as a joke, it’s been the band’s biggest hit and is used by sports teams for promo purposes time and again.

Related: Count on us to have the best songs with numbers in the title.

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By Ged Richardson

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