Sports DJ Sound Off: 2015 Pro & College Baseball Playlist
At 3 Point Productions, we believe the soundtrack to any event is extremely important in providing a first-class fan experience. Our Sports DJ Sound Off series is designed to help you better soundtrack your game nights and understand the impact a DJ can have when producing an event, building on in-game momentum and developing a home field advantage.
Baseball has more situational audio cue possibilities than any other sport. A properly prepared baseball DJ will be ready with an audio cue for anything from a hit by pitch to a mound visit to a game tying double in the 9th inning. Here are a few scenarios to prepare for and some example tracks to add to your baseball music library.
Walk Tunes
Walk tunes are song cues to play once a home-team batter has walked. Once the umpire calls ball 4, hit your cue and play the track until the next batter is announced and then transition into your next batter intro track. Here are some example walk tunes:
1. "Take a Walk" - Passion Pit
2. "Walk it Out" - UNK (edited version)
3. "Walk this Way" - Run DMC & Aerosmith
4. "We Walk" - The Ting Tings
5. "I'm Walkin'" - Fats Domino
Hit by Pitch
Hit by pitch cues are used when a home team batter gets plunked. Note that if the player is seriously injured and goes to the ground, don't drop an a audio cue. In most cases, the player will trot to first and you hit your cue and then play the track until the next batter in announced. Here are some examples:
1. "Feels Good" - Tony Toni Tone
2. "Standing in the Way of Control" - Gossip
3. "Bad to the Bone" - George Thorogood
4. "More than a Feeling" - Boston
5. "Get on the Good Foot" - James Brown
Mound Visits
When the visiting coach heads to the mound for a conference with the pitcher, this is a perfect time to drop-in some themed tracks. You should also plan cues for whether the pitcher stays in the game or if they bring in a reliever. Here are a few examples of mound visit songs and cues to follow:
1. "Happy Together" - The Turtles
2. "I'm Shakin'" - Jack White
3. "With a Little Help from My Friends" - The Beatles
If the pitcher stays in:
1. "Running on Empty" - Jackson Browne
2. "Take a Chance on Me" - ABBA
3. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" - Jerry Lee Lewis
If the pitcher is relieved:
1. "Baby, Please Don't Go" - Them
2. "Problem" - Ariana Grande
3. "The Gambler" - Kenny Loggins
Home Run Tracks
Home run tracks are played when a home team player hits one out of the park. These song selections are usually upbeat and celebratory. In professional baseball, I've seen examples where star players have their own song cue or the song cue may change for a home run at a certain point late in games. Home run tracks should be played through the next batter intro to keep the crowd energy up and carry momentum. Here are a few good home run tracks:
1. "Booyah" - Showtek
2. "Get Up" - Bingo Players & Far East Movement
3. "Bounce Generation" - TJR & Vinai
Big At-Bats
Big At-Bat cues tend to take place in the late innings of close games or during rally attempts. I tend to consider 3 runs or less a "close game" but you can set your own parameters. Big At-Bat cues are used when the home team has a batter coming to the plate that can knock in a run or sway the momentum of the game. These cues replace a batter's regular intro song and should match the mood of the moment- intense, dramatic and epic. Here are a few good examples:
1. "Chimes" - Hudson Mohawke
2. "Higher Ground" - TNGHT
3. "Hate Me Now" - Nas & P Diddy (instrumental)
4. "300 Violin Orchestra" - John Quintero
5. "Burn" - Meek Mill & Big Sean (instrumental)
6. "Ready" - B.O.B. feat. Future (instrumental)
Hit Accents
Hit accents are used when a home team player gets a hit that doesn't score a run. These song selections should be upbeat and encouraging but not too celebratory. Hit accents should be played through the next batter intro to keep the crowd energy up and carry momentum. Here are a few good tracks:
1. "Tell You (Today)" - Robyn
2. "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" - Fergie & Q-Tip
3. "GDFR" - Flo-Rida (edited version)
4. "How We Do" - Hardwell & Showtek
5. "All Nite (Yes Ma'am)" - Visti & Meyland
Power Stings
Power stings replace a hit accent when a run is scored by the home team. These song selections should be upbeat, celebratory and capable of bringing crowd energy to the next level. These have a bigger sound than an average hit accent and are intended to build on the momentum of the moment. Here are few good tracks to add to your library:
1. "Overdrive" - Calvin Harris
2. "Express Yourself" - Diplo
3. "Let's Get Ridiculous" - Redfoo
4. "Bootcamp" - Jay Hardway
5. "Bazooka" - Firebeatz
6. "Ping Pong" - Armin Van Buuren
Obviously these topics don't include every scenario you can plan for with audio cues during a baseball game. We've really just scratched the surface but hopefully this provides an example of how proper preparation is the key to a great baseball soundtrack. Baseball is a long season and it's a fun sport to DJ, maybe I'll post another baseball playlist additional in-game scenarios later this season. Until then... PLAY BALL!
If you enjoyed this blog entry, you may find these articles useful as well:
- Sports DJ Sound Off: 2015 Hockey Playlist
- Sports DJ Sound Off: Meet DJ M.I.L. of the Brooklyn Nets
- Sports DJ Sound Off: 2014-15 Pro & College Basketball Playlist
- Sports DJ Sound Off: 2014 Halloween Theme Night Playlist