South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Home of the South Bend Cubs
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
1. Take Me Out To The Ball Game - South Bend Cubs Marker - pre-production version
Take Me Out To The Ball Game was the 1908 team effort of two friends, Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer. Both men had musical backgrounds; Norworth’s Dad was the Choir Director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. Von Tilzer was a Jewish man from Indianapolis who composed popular songs.
Norworth, riding the subway to work, saw a sign, Baseball today - Polo Grounds. He imagined a story about Katie Casey. Katie was asked out on a date. She agreed, but only if she could go to the Ball Game. She wanted to root, root, root for the home team. She wanted to eat some peanuts and Cracker Jack. She didn’t care if she ever came back. And if they didn’t win, it would be a shame because it was one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old Ball Game. Katie was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Baseball. She wanted to sit in the stands. She did not want to be left behind, only to mind the home. Norworth had thrown a societal curveball way ahead of its time.
Norworth asked Von Tilzer to put the lyrics to music. They promoted the song to nationally popular singers like Nora Bayes, vaudeville theaters, and Silent Movie Houses. Audiences sang along.
It quickly became a national hit.
Baseball’s song has been featured in over 1,200 movies, television shows, and commercials. It’s been
this page online
Take Me Out to the Ball Game was first sung at a major league game during the 1934 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Detroit. Cardinal outfielder Pepper Martin sang it to the thrill of the crowd. The Cardinals went on to win the series.
The 7th inning stretch has been part of Baseball tradition since at least 1869. Bill Veeck owned the Chicago White Sox in 1976. He observed beloved Sox sportscaster Harry Caray silently singing the song during the stretch. His mike was off. Veeck secretly rigged Caray’s booth. The next time Carey sang during the “Stretch,” his far-from-professional voice boomed across the stadium. The fans loved it.
Singing Take Me Out to the Ball game during the 7th inning stretch has become a national tradition.
"There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all." Lou Gehrig, Baseball Hall of Fame
Erected 2025 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, South Bend Cubs, Four Winds Field, Indiana Jewish Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Sports. In addition,
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
2. Take Me Out To The Ball Game - South Bend Cubs Marker
Location. 41° 40.291′ N, 86° 15.349′ W. Marker is in South Bend, Indiana, in St. Joseph County. It is on South William Street. Outside of the South Bend Cubs merchandise store. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 S William Street, South Bend IN 46601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Sons of Israel Synagogue (within shouting distance of this marker); Studebaker Guard House (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Studebaker Corporation (approx. 0.3 miles away); J. Chester and Elizabeth Allen (approx. 0.3 miles away); We Shall Overcome (approx. 0.3 miles away); Studebaker Plaza (approx. 0.3 miles away); Robertson's Department Store (approx. 0.3 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Bend.
More about this marker. The South Bend Cubs Take Me Out To the Ball Game historical interpretive marker is the first in a series of markers reflecting upon Baseball's (Unofficial) National Anthem.
The South Bend Cubs' store, uniquely, is located in a former synagogue building that existed next to Four Winds Field.
Regarding Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Take Me Out To the Ball Game, the beloved national baseball song, was created by two young Americans, Jack Norworth, a Christian from Philadelphia, and Albert Von Tilzer a Jew from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Together, through Baseball, their common efforts reflected one of the most important meaning of the America's national pastime - commonality as Americans.
Lou Gehrig, Baseball Hall of Fame, observed importantly about baseball and America:
"There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all."
Also see . . .
1. Take Me Out To The Ball Game. (Submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. The Story Behind the Most Famous Song in Baseball. (Submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
3. #Popups: Baseball’s greatest hit is ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’. (Submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
4. South Bend Cubs. (Submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
5. Ballpark Synagogue. The Ballpark Synagogue, officially B'nai Israel Synagogue ("Sons of Israel"), is a historic former Jewish synagogue located in South Bend, Indiana. It is the oldest synagogue in South Bend, and it is also thought to be "America's only ballpark synagogue." In 2012, the unused synagogue was renovated and reopened as a gift shop for the South Bend Cubs minor league baseball team, whose ballpark abuts the property. The synagogue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. (Submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
6. The Journey of 'Take Me Out To The Ball Game".
It was one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old Ball Game. So goes the lyrics of Baseball’s unofficial National anthem, written by Jack Norworth and sung to the tune created by Albert Von Tilzer.(Submitted on June 29, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
The effort to donate ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ historical interpretive markers to various ballparks and teams across America was a strikeout, followed by more strikeouts of baffling rejection.
Baseball has nine innings. Each team has nine chances, with at least 27 up-to-bat opportunities to face down the opposing team’s pitchers’ “competitively malevolent” best efforts -+
strike them out.
After hitless innings, it was looking like the idea of giving away the markers was going to be a record, nothing but a strikeout game.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 618 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
