4 of the Most Iconic Walk-Up Songs in MLB History
Music and sports go hand in hand, but in baseball, a player's entire persona is defined by one thing: their walk-up song.
Written by Olivia Abercrombie
Illustrated by Krista McLeod
These songs served as the theme for their strut up to bat or the anthem to their trot out to the mound. When walk-up music first began in the 1970s, an organist would actually play live music. That switched to recorded music in the 1990s, possibly inspired by the movie "Major League" where Charlie Sheen's character would walk out to "Wild Thing" by The Troggs. To celebrate the resolution of the lockout, we’ve chosen four of the most iconic walk-up songs in MLB history and the players behind them.
David Ortiz: "Big Poppa" by The Notorious B.I.G.
Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter and first-baseman David Ortiz received the nickname Big Papi from a sports broadcaster who heard his teammates calling him Papi in the locker room. The nickname not only stuck, but became notorious for the slugger's prominent presence in the batter's box. The Hall of Famer holds the record for the most home runs in a single season for the Red Sox.
Ortiz's walk-up song reflects his persona perfectly. "Big Poppa" drips with swagger and '90s charm. Unlike traditional hard rock walk-up songs, "Big Poppa" is a slow, groovy jam that becomes an anthem of badassery when paired with Ortiz's reputation at the plate. Ortiz picked this song for his appreciation for the line "I love it when you call me Big Poppa," saying it’s one of the greatest lyrics of all time. Although not confirmed, it's probably no coincidence that the seven-time Silver Slugger picked a song not too far from his nickname. Ortiz will go down in history as one of the most infamous hitters of all time with a killer walk-up song by one of the most famous, and infamous, rappers of all time.
Chipper Jones: "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne
Turtleneck-wearing third baseman Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr. was the No. 1 draft pick in the 1990 draft for the Atlanta Braves. The switch-hitter was an eight-time All-Star and holds the record for most RBIs for a third baseman. He was charismatic from the first time he stepped on the diamond and baseball’s Princess Diana, known as a true "man of the people."
Ozzy Osbourne's maniacal laughter on the timeless banger "Crazy Train" is an omen, warning the opposing team of what's to come as soon as Jones steps up to bat. The opening rhythmic drumbeat and deep bassline mimic a battle call, and the heavy guitar riff that follows heightens the energy to get the stadium on its feet for Jones at the plate. The first verse is a call-out to his competitors: "Crazy, but that's how it goes / Millions of people living as foes," and when he goes up to bat, the battle between him and his opponents is about to begin.
Randy Johnson: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses
Lovingly nicknamed The Big Unit, Randy Johnson was a left-handed pitcher that floated between five different teams during his career, most notably the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks.At 6'10", Johnson had an (understandably) extremely intimidating presence. The Hall of Famer stands second in career strikeouts at an impressive 4,875 over the course of his career, among a slew of other record-breaking accomplishments.
Perhaps one of the most iconic opening riffs of all time, "Welcome to the Jungle" attacks the audience with a high-intensity riff, with Axl Rose's scream layered over top like a police siren. Only a player with a reputation for destruction like Johnson could pull off walking out to such a brazen song. With the ominous lyrics, "You know where you are? / You're in the jungle, baby / You're gonna die," Johnson's strut from the bullpen struck fear in the batter — who knew what they were going to be up against. With a dominating presence on the mound and a 102 mph fastball, only Guns N' Roses could capture the intimidation factor Johnson carried with him on the mound.
Mariano Rivera: "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
Mariano Rivera is a 13-time All-Star pitcher who played 19 seasons with the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2013. He was a closer who only played during the last few innings of a game, but he’s still regarded as the greatest of all time.
"Enter Sandman" opens with an iconic sinister guitar that feels like the opening to a cinematic battle scene. Perfect for intimidating the opposing team as Mariano Rivera enters the field from the bullpen. The song's title refers to the sandman, a character from folklore who puts children to sleep, yet the song is ultimately a metaphor for nightmares. As Rivera jogs to the mound while the Yankees stadium erupts in cheers, lead James Hetfield growls out, "Sleep with one eye open / Gripping your pillow tight," for the Hall of Fame closer.
Even though it has become such a large part of his legacy, Rivera didn’t choose this song for himself. The Yankees marketing team picked it for him. Traditionally players will choose a song they identify with or feel defines them, but Rivera feels the opposite. "People identify it [with me], but that's it. I wouldn't say that's my identity. To tell you the truth, I have to do one thing. I go out there and pitch," Rivera said in an MLB interview. Funnily enough, the Panama native prefers Christian music, which is a stark contrast to Metallica.
While every MLB player gets to pick a walk-up song, not all of them go down in history quite like those in this list. Nothing will give an MLB fan goosebumps like hearing one of these iconic songs play to remind them of some of the best players of all time.