7th Inning Stretch: Baseball's Midgame Pause Becomes a Beloved Ritual & NOBLETIGER Explained

We start today with the meaning of the baseball acronym NobleTiger. No spoilers here - you'll just have to listen.

Then we're on to the Seventh Inning Stretch. It feels timeless, but the story behind that stand-up-and-sing moment is far messier, funnier, and more revealing than the folklore suggests. We follow the ritual from scattered 19th-century notes and the “lucky seventh” label to the polished spectacle that fills ballparks today, testing the famous tale of President Taft against earlier sources and a surprising college origin that credits Brother Jasper with getting restless fans on their feet.

Once the standing started, music turned the pause into a chorus. We revisit how Take Me Out to the Ball Game went from a 1908 tune to the soundtrack of togetherness, and how Harry Caray’s off-key charm made singing a stadium-wide tradition. From there, the stretch becomes a map of local identity: the Yankees’ God Bless America after 9/11, Milwaukee’s Beer Barrel Polka, Houston’s Deep in the Heart of Texas, Seattle’s tug-of-war over Louis Louie, the Orioles’ Thank God I’m a Country Boy, and the Mets’ Lazy Mary. Even Boston’s Sweet Caroline, famously a bottom-of-the-eighth anthem, shows how teams bend time with sound to make a place feel like theirs.

We zoom out to global variations, including Japan’s Lucky Seven with skybound balloons and dueling fight songs, and Toronto’s literal stretching routine before the singalong. Not every experiment lands—sorry, Marlins—but the attempts reveal how clubs chase connection without losing the thread of tradition. Through it all, the stretch does what baseball does best: it invites everyone to slow down, breathe, and belong for a minute before the late-inning drama. Pull up the song in your head, grab your Cracker Jack, and consider the century of habit packed into that brief, joyful pause.

Enjoyed this deep dive? Follow, share with a fellow fan, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What’s your ballpark’s go-to stretch song—and do you sing, snack, or just soak it in?

Email us at fungosandfastballs@gmail.com

Transcript

Quirky Baseball Lingo And Acronyms

Jerry 0:01

I really enjoy the quirky language of baseball, and we occasionally start our podcast with a first pitch, briefly going over a baseball term, old or new. So terms like can of corn or ducks on the pond can be quite endearing. Cute even.

Brooke 0:16

Yeah, like Uncle Charlie's Frozen Rope sounds like chin music. See what I did there? I used three of those. Look 'em up. Sounds dirty.

Jerry 0:26

Sorry. Sometimes though, acronyms can seem a bit too forced. I mean, SCUBA and SNAFU are great, but longer ones like CAPTCHA, the I'm NOT a robot quiz can be cumbersome. I'm not sure how I feel about the term Noble Tiger in baseball. By now you've heard this one, right? It's an acronym, and kudos to come up with whoever fit it together with a cute phrase.

Brooke 0:51

It actually sounds like a mascot, like a cute stuffed animal, the Noble Tiger.

Jerry 0:57

Well, Noble Tiger is an acronym, and it stands for no outs, bases loaded, ending with team incapable of getting an easy run. It's obviously not an official stat, but some commentators really gravitate towards using it.

Brooke 1:13

Could could you repeat that again? I think you lost me after the word bases.

Jerry 1:18

It's worth repeating because it's so darn long.

Brooke 1:21

That's what she said.

Jerry 1:23

No outs, bases loaded ending with team incapable of getting an easy run. I mean, who knows? Maybe I don't appreciate it because nothing is more frustrated than when your team loads the base early in the inning and then doesn't take advantage of the situation. Then you're cursing at the TV screen, and some bright commentator uses the Noble Tiger term. When a team has loaded the bases with no outs over the past decade, your team's supposed to score about 87% of the time, and typically they score more than one run. So as most listeners agree, when this situation occurs, you just hate it. I just heard it used more and more by commentators over the past couple of seasons, especially because Noble Tigers have increased over the past 10 years. The bases get loaded, some power hitter comes up, he tries swinging for the fences, and instead of situational hitting and getting one of those guys home.

Brooke 2:15

I've seen a couple of my fantasy players do that only to strike out.

Jerry 2:19

Yeah, I've seen some of your fantasy players do that too. The term actually first appeared on Reddit in 2018 by Tigers fans, and it makes the phrase not only an acronym, but a clever reference to the team's woes that year. The poor Tigers were 64 and 98. I don't know. The term just seems too forced. I'm not convinced.

Brooke 2:40

All right, grumpy old man. We're getting off base. Let's just start the episode.

Welcome To Fungos And Fastballs

What Is The Seventh Inning Stretch

Jerry 2:52

Hello and welcome to Fungos and Fastballs, the podcast of baseball history and trivia. I'm your host, Jerry Dynes, and each episode will be a snapshot into America's pastime. Maybe it'll be a player, a tradition, a stadium, a rule, or some random fun aspect of the game. So let's get on to today's topic. Today we discuss a familiar tradition, the seventh inning stretch. Think of all that fun you have during this moment of a baseball game. And do you literally get up and stretch? Do you sing? Or do you take the opportunity to run up and go to the restroom or get another snack? Hopefully, not this last option is you're gonna hit some big lines at concession or at the bathroom. Plus, you're gonna miss all the fun. I personally try to make sure I've got my cracker jack ready during the singing of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, which really would get its own podcast episode. Brooke, add that one to the list.

Brooke 3:51

Oh gosh, easier said than done. That notebook is pretty full.

The Taft Legend And Earlier Accounts

Jerry 3:54

I bet it is. Well, the seventh inning stretch is so ingrained in baseball culture. But when did it start? Why are we stretching? Why the heck is it at the middle of the seventh inning? Have people sung the whole time? Well, just like the origins of the game itself, and we're gonna get to those origins in future episodes. It's already on the list too. But the origins of the stretch are heavily debated, almost mythical. A fantastic story that you know fits in nicely with the game's identity as America's pastime was on opening day, April 14th, 1910, attended by none other but U.S. President William Howard Taft. Now that game was between the Washington Senators, who were now the Twins, and the Philadelphia Athletics, who were now playing in Sacramento. Taft was there to throw out the first pitch. Now, you probably know from your American history, Taft was a huge man. Remember, they had a special bathtub built at the White House for him. I'm sorry, wait, who knows this? It's in your history books. He learned it in like fifth grade.

Brooke 5:00

His bathtub's in your history books.

Brother Jasper And The Lucky Seventh

Jerry 5:02

It should be. Oh. But he was. He was over six feet tall, he's over 300 pounds. So understandably, by the seventh inning, he was feeling quite stiff and stood to stretch, especially on those wooden, unforgiving benches back then. Although the president might have had some cushions. I don't know. I haven't done that much research. But as he stood, also everyone around him stood because it's customary when the president stands for others to stand. Well, this story is wonderful, fits in again with American history and that nostalgia and mythology, but really there are accounts of the stretch even close to 50 years earlier. Even a couple years before the Taft game, during the 1908 World Series, Cubs fans stood up during the seventh inning, hoping to disrupt the Tigers' momentum. Even 50 years earlier than that, in 1869, fan stretching is noted in a letter by Harry Wright, the manager of the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Also that year, there was an article in the Cincinnati Commercial about a 10-minute intermission at the end of the sixth inning. Now, Brooke, although it probably didn't start there, personally, I'd like to believe that the story of the seventh inning stretch and its origins started at Manhattan College in New York City. Hold up. Where? That sounds familiar. Well, admittedly, perhaps I enjoy the story because it's my alma mater or alma mater. My New York came in there, alma mater. But go, Jaspers! So the coach of the team at the time, Brother Jasper Brennan, who brought baseball to the college, in an 1882 game, saw that his students were restless in the stands and instructed them to stand up and unwind. And it brought great luck. They started doing it every game after winning that game. And, you know, right in town there were the New York baseball giants, they saw the practice and it wound up spreading to the majors. But again, there are earlier stories than that one. On a side note, Manhattan College has got a bit hoity-toity since I've been there. Now it's apparently Manhattan University. But boy, did their baseball team stink when I was there. They didn't have a winning season in all four years. I I really should have gone up for the team. I would have been raking.

Brooke 7:23

Yeah, you couldn't have done any worse than they did. And you probably would have uh gotten a little baseball card somewhere.

Jerry 7:30

Ooh.

Brooke 7:30

With your name on it.

Jerry 7:33

So it seems like the tradition of the stretch came somewhere between the 1860s and 1880s. But when was it actually called the quote seventhening stretch? Well, that's equally nebulous. The actual term seventh inning stretch really doesn't come up in writing until the 20th century. It's mentioned at least since the late 70s as the lucky seventh.

Brooke 7:57

1870s, by the way.

Jerry 7:59

Oh, yes.

Brooke 8:00

not 1970s, listener.

Jerry 8:01

No, no, we were calling it in the 1970s. Yes, but the late 1870s, people called it the lucky seventh. By 1914, though, it's mentioned in a Philadelphia cigar ad as the seventh inning stretch. So somewhere between the 1870s and 1910s, a term is born.

Harry Caray And Ballpark Singalongs

Brooke 8:18

And follow us on Instagram and Facebook because I have a photo of the cigar box with the seventh inning stretchers.

Jerry 8:26

Thank you. Yes, check it out. Well, I love a famous quote. Well, not a famous quote, but a quote by John McGraw, the pugnacious manager of New York's baseball giants, that he was the manager for 30 years. And in 1922, he said this about the seventh inning stretch and its benefits. Keeps you out in the open air. Doctors recommend it for heart trouble. Stretching in the seventh gives you a good chance to exercise flabby muscles, puts pep into you, stirs you up. Plenty of sunshine and green grass and thrills. It's the best tonic in the world. So get up and stretch. It's doctor's orders. I really don't know if it's much of a tonic if you combine it with a large stadium beer, but hey, enjoy. And if you're lucky enough to see a 14th inning game, then hey, stretch twice. There was that great 18th inning game three of last year's 2025 Dodgers Blue Jays World Series. And yes, a 14th inning stretch was celebrated.

Brooke 9:28

I I must say I missed that. I was on Eastern time that night and I gave up on the game after about 1 a.m. It was way too late for me.

Jerry 9:35

I stayed up and was quite tired the next day.

Brooke 9:38

I bet you were. I mean, what did it finish? It I think two after two o'clock on Eastern time.

Jerry 9:43

Yeah. And like President Taft, I had to get up and stretch multiple times during that game. Well, of course, it wouldn't be so much fun if all we did was stand up and stretch, right? So throughout Major League Baseball, we all sing during the stretch. And what do we sing? Take me out to the ball game. You know, during uh during the game, I make sure I have that big bag of Cracker Jack ready.

Songs By Team And Fan Traditions

Brooke 10:07

Yeah. Well, many times you bring one for each of us. Now, I must say I've never gone to a baseball game without Jerry. So um if I were on my own, I don't think I'd get the Cracker Jack because I don't like nuts, and it's just not good anymore.

Jerry 10:22

Well, it needs more peanuts, but you don't like nuts, so what's the problem?

Brooke 10:26

Well, it's just a little sticky. It used to be much crunchier. And I and hey, what's the prize in there? Which is the only reason you used to get Cracker Jack was for the prize. So it's little lickum tattoos. Lickum tattoos, because that's what every adult wants.

Jerry 10:41

Well, Brooke may prefer fiddle faddle, but that's not in the darn song. Now, one pet peeve I do have, never pluralize Cracker Jack. That's the product name. It's like Barnes and Noble or the book of Revelation. You don't pluralize it.

Brooke 10:57

Yeah, I have to say, we had to do a couple retakes the first time because I did say cracker jacks.

Jerry 11:03

Yes.

Brooke 11:03

But so if you have two bags, what do you say?

Jerry 11:07

You have two bags of Cracker Jack. But if you don't use the word bags, you have two Cracker Jacks? And by the way, not to get off topic, but there's no plural for cannoli. When you're at an Italian restaurant, you don't order cannolis. Cannoli is the plural, cannolo is the single.

Brooke 11:22

All right, all right. Come back. We're way off track now. Okay. We're past the warning track. Which I guess you can't really be past the warning track, can you? Because you're on the wall.

unknown 11:31

Sorry.

Jerry 11:32

Of course, it really wouldn't be much fun if all we did was stand up and stretch, right? So throughout Major League Baseball, we all sing during the stretch, and what do we sing? Take me out to the ball game. I will spare you my singing. Although maybe I'll sing when we do an episode of Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

Brooke 11:52

All right, I'm writing it down. Writing it down.

Jerry 11:54

Keep that list going.

Brooke 11:55

I got it.

International Takes And Colorful Rituals

Closing Notes And Subscribe Reminder

Jerry 11:56

Well, that song hasn't been around the whole time of the stretch. It was written in 1908. Now, in the 1940s, bands at game would play Take Me Out. But it was broadcaster Harry Carey that popularized singing the lyrics. Now, Carrie was announcer with the Chicago White Sox from 1971 to 81 at Comiskey Park. And while the organist was playing the song, he would sing along in the booth or hum. And White Sox owner Bill Vec thought the whole park would enjoy Carrie singing, so he convinced him to turn on the mic. Carrie would continue this even when he became the Cubs broadcaster in 1982, where he remained at Wrigley until 1997. Other parks started singing it too, and now I believe every stadium sings it.

Brooke 12:40

Our social post actually has a list of the variety of singers, well, I shouldn't even say singers, because some of them are not, but who've had the honor to sing it in front of the crowds.

Jerry 12:51

Yeah, some of them really don't sing very much.

Brooke 12:53

No, some some are just fun.

Jerry 12:55

But probably better than me. And Certainly better than Brooke. Well, in addition to Take Me Out to the Ball Game at other parks, sometimes you're graced with some other songs. The Yankees, since 9-11, sing God Bless America prior to singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. The Brewers play beer barrel poker. Makes sense, Milwaukee. The Astros played Deep in the Heart of Texas. Also makes sense. The Mariners, for some reason, play Louie Louie. Now there was a controversial replacement briefly in 2022 when they replaced the song with Macklemore's Can't Hold Us, sparking fan backlash.

Brooke 13:31

Does anyone even know the words to that song?

Jerry 13:34

To Louie Louie or the Macklemore song?

Brooke 13:36

Well, definitely Louie Louie.

Jerry 13:38

Certainly Louie Louie. I don't know the words.

Brooke 13:39

I have no idea what they're saying, except Louie Louie.

Jerry 13:43

The Orioles play, Thank God I'm a Country Boy. Now the Mets play the song Lazy Mary, which is not a song too well known, certainly not outside the New York City area. It's by an Italian-American singer named Lou Monte, who we know in the Dynes household for the Christmas song Dominic the Dunkey.

Brooke 14:01

All right, hold up, gentlemen. If you want to woo your lady or your guy, pour that trivia fact on them. Chills of excitement, Jerry, are just running down my spine right now.

Jerry 14:13

I got more where that came from, baby. You're so lucky.

Brooke 14:16

Yeah, yeah, I know I am. I know.

Jerry 14:19

Where was I? I got distracted. Perhaps the most famous song beside Take Me Out to the Bowl Game sung at stadiums is Sweet Caroline. Bum bum bum by Neil Diamond. That's played at every Red Sox game, but it's actually sung at the bottom of the eighth inning, not during the stretch. An interesting tradition I learned is from Toronto, where Blue Jays fans are led to a literal stretch as Health Canada officials lead fans in stretching exercises to the club song, Okay Blue Jays, before take me out to the bowl game. Now, in America, that didn't work out too well. In 1993, in their inaugural year, the Florida Marlins attempted to do this with a group of dancers called the Seventh Inning Stretchers, but they were booed mercilessly for two games, and then the Marlins stopped.

Brooke 15:11

Oh, that's just horrible. It is sad. Oh no.

Jerry 15:15

We're just not as healthy as those Canadians. No, we're not. And the stretch isn't unique to baseball in the U.S. In Japan. Japanese baseball also has a seventh-inning stretch called They're the Lucky Seven. You gotta see this. The home team's fight song is played, balloons are released, and the visiting team gets to sing their team song at the top of the seventh. And this makes for a rollicking, colorful spectacle.

Brooke 15:41

I'll have to put it on social, Jer. I looked it up on YouTube. Um, it looks like a stadium full of sperms being released.

Jerry 15:50

Hey, this is a family program here.

Brooke 15:52

Yeah, I don't want to get the explicit on my uh Although it's physiology, I guess.

Jerry 15:55

That's right. It is a funny look. It really is. Well, that's the end of the ninth. Fun time today. Thanks always to Brooke, my producer. You're welcome. And shout out especially to my bank teller Terry, who assured me he'd be listening.

Brooke 16:11

Uh, do you actually know where our bank is?

Jerry 16:14

Watch out, I even know our ATM code.

Brooke 16:17

No.

Jerry 16:18

Well, hope you'll keep listening, and don't forget to like us on social media and subscribe on your podcast platform. Heading back to the locker room, this is Jerry Dynes and Fungo's and Basketball.