Since the passing of Harry Caray, the Chicago Cubs have had a number of celebrity guests to lead the crowd in the singing of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch. Actors, musicians, politicians– you name it– they’ve all been to Wrigley Field for the seventh inning tradition. On Tuesday, May 24, Jeff Gordon visited the historic ballpark in Chicago to throw out the first pitch before the game. He donned the pinstriped Cubs home jersey to make his trek out to the mound for the ceremonial pitch. Gordon then headed up to the broadcast booth for the 7th inning, where WGN broadcaster Bob Brenly asked him for a ride home after the game. “What is the speed limit on Lake Shore Drive anyway?” Brenly joked. Gordon talked about the July race at Chicagoland Speedway and the NASCAR season. In the middle of the 7th inning, Gordon led the crowd in a rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” which definitely didn’t go as smoothly as a lap around a NASCAR track (the words simply escaped him). Though Gordon’s “Let’s get some runs” proclamation at the conclusion turned out to be a boon for the home team as the Cubs rallied from a 2-0 deficit with 4 runs in the eighth inning to win the game.(Gordonline)
AND Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon is used to hearing boos at the racetrack, but on Tuesday, he was booed at Wrigley Field during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros. Gordon threw out the first pitch at the Chicago ballpark and sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th-inning stretch. After referring to the facility as “Wrigley Stadium”, he sang off-microphone at the beginning and then stopped singing in the middle before attempting to catch up to his organ accompaniment at the end of the tune.(FoxSports)
AND II Cub’s manager Dusty Baker said he felt for NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon, who was booed Tuesday night for his version of Take Me Out To The Ball Game. “It’s hard to believe Jeff Gordon [would be booed],” Baker said. “For me, this guy is one of the greatest of all time. I don’t know if he’s going to come back now.”(Chicago Tribune)(5-26-2005)
