The forgotten Irish verses of Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Today, we sing the chorus of Take Me Out to the Ball Game during every 7th inning. The full story of the song, about a young baseball fan named Katie Casey, has long been forgotten. Source: The forgotten Irish verses of Take Me Out to the Ball Game | IrishCentral.com

Update

A memorial to Lithuanian Jewish composer Albert von Tilzer was unveiled in South Bend Friday night. Here’s a summary of the South Bend Tribune article:

Summary of the Article

A new historical marker has been dedicated at Four Winds Field, the home of the South Bend Cubs, honoring Albert Von Tilzer, the composer of America’s iconic baseball anthem, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Key details from the dedication ceremony and the song’s history include:

• An “Outsider” History: Von Tilzer (born Elias Gumbinsky) grew up in a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant family in Indianapolis. Ironically, neither he nor lyricist Jack Norworth had ever been to a baseball game when they wrote the song in 1908.
• The Inspiration: The song was written from the perspective of Norworth’s girlfriend at the time, who was trying to convince him to take her to a game.
• A Delayed Ballpark Debut: The song was originally played to accompany silent movies and didn’t make its official debut at an actual baseball stadium until nearly 30 years after it was composed.
• Finding a Home in South Bend: The Indiana Jewish Historical Society pitched the marker to the South Bend Cubs after Von Tilzer’s hometown of Indianapolis rejected it. The South Bend team readily accepted, already being known for inclusivity (their team gift shop is located inside a historic former synagogue).
• Themes of Inclusivity: Hosted during Jewish American Heritage Month, the ceremony highlighted how the song represents a story of cultural influence, inclusion, and the desire of outsiders to belong to the broader American community.

You can find the source article here…