The Show Before the Show: Team Songs

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A Very Special Episode: Minor League Team Theme Songs

In this standalone installment of The Show Before the Show, Ben and Tyler explore the wide, weird world of Minor League Baseball team theme songs and jingles. You may have heard some of these earworms at the ballpark and on the radio, but never before have so many been compiled into one distinct piece of podcast pleasure. From Altoona to Lansing, Round Rock to Rochester, this is a slice of sports-themed Americana that should not - nay, must not - be missed. Ben and Tyler bring the theoretically witty banter, edifying interviews and contextualizing information. All you need to bring are your eardrums, which are in for an hour of unremitting ecstasy.

Hartford Yard Goats - "Eat It Up" (2:07)

Mike Abramson, interview (3:10)

• Abramson, the assistant general manager of the Hartford Yard Goats, speaks about the how this maddeningly catchy team jingle came about. It's "Dropkick Murphys meets Huey Lewis"! This is followed by an encore presentation of "Eat It Up."

Lansing Lugnuts - "Go Nuts" (7:00)

Montgomery Biscuits - "Our Biscuits are Outta Sight" (9:10)

Round Rock Express - "All Aboard" (12:18)

Corpus Christi Hooks - "I'm Hooked" (17:11)

Rochester Red Wings - "Here Come the Red Wings" (20:42)

Fred Costello, interview (23:08)

• Fred Costello, now in his 40th season as the Rochester Red Wings organist, speaks about the long and winding career path that led him to the ballpark. He then elaborates on the motivation for writing "Here Come the Red Wings", one of the most enduring theme songs in Minor League Baseball.

Columbus Clippers - "Ring Your Bell" (26:04)

Altoona Curve - "Everybody Loves the Curve" (30:18)

Altoona Curve - "Look Out Here Comes Steamer" (32:36)

Toledo Mud Hens - "Hatchin' Some Hits at the Hen House" (35:07)

Toledo Mud Hens - "Oh, How We Love Them Hens" (38:16)

Lehigh Valley IronPigs - "Swing It Like an IronPig" (40:47)

Reading Fightin Phils - "We're the Fightins" (43:32)

Buck Rogers Interview (46:54)

• Buck Rogers, now the senior director of sales for the Lancaster JetHawks, flashes back to his first-ever job in Minor League Baseball with the now-defunct Cape Fear Crocs. He and his cronies helped to develop one of the strangest-ever team theme songs, the Cleveland Rocks-inspired Cape Fear Crocs.

Cape Fear Crocs - "Cape Fear Crocs" (50:55)

Trenton Thunder - "Thunder Power" (55:12)

Great Lakes Loons - "Dive In" (57:49)

Chris Mundhenk (Great Lakes Loons vice president of entertainment and marketing) - "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" (1:02:00)